Returning Spurs striker Robbie Keane will play no part in the Uefa Cup for his new club because his transfer from Liverpool came too late for him to be registered for the knockout rounds of the competition.
Also Defoe, who returned in Jaunarycan not play in the UEFA cup because he already played for Portsmouth – it is irrelevant that the south-coast club have since fallen at the group stage.
If Keane’s return had gone through before midnight Sunday he would have been eligible to play. The UEFA ruling allows one outfield player to take part after changing clubs half way through the season but because Keane’s move did not go through until Monday, he can not play any part for Spurs.
Keane will also miss out on the Carling Cup final against Manchester United on 1 March, having made a three-minute appearance for Liverpool at Crewe.
When Tottenham face Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 32 of the Uefa Cup Redknapp will also be unable to select Roman Pavlyuchenko who is cup-tied after playing for Spartak Moscow in Champions League qualifying.
Spurs only fully eligible strikers therefore are Darren Bent and Fraizer Campbell.
We sign three strikers and can’t play any of them in the competition – what a rule? At least all strikers will get a chance to play we have a rotation system that is being forced upon us.
But seriously … this could dramatically hamper our bid for both trophies we’re chasing.
