Spurs pair named in 25-man squad after missing out in August
JONATHAN Woodgate and Ben Alnwick have both been included in Tottenham’s 25-man squad today, filling spaces left by the departures of David Bentley, Robbie Keane and Jamie O’Hara in January.
Bentley was loaned to Birmingham City midway through the month, while Jamie O’Hara has now joined Wolves for the second half of the season after recovering from a back injury.
Meanwhile, Keane has gone to West Ham – initially on loan, but with the move becoming permanent if the Hammers avoid relegation.
According to rules which came into force in the summer, Premier League clubs are required to register 25 players who are over the age of 21 the day after the transfer window closes.
Both Woodgate and fourth-choice goalkeeper Alnwick were omitted from that list on September 1, but they are now eligible to feature for Spurs in the second half of the campaign.
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Helpfully, both players are also ‘homegrown’, meaning that the Lilywhites have named nine homegrown players in their squad – one more than the minimum allowed.
“We’ve just about got a full squad,” said Harry Redknapp. “We found someone out there. He was the groundsman before. No, we’ve got the full 25 and everyone is fine so we have enough players. It’s not a problem.”
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Although Alnwick is now able for play for Spurs, his prospects of actually taking to the field have not greatly improved, given that he is still fourth in line behind Heurelho Gomes, Carlo Cudicini and Stipe Pletikosa.
The 24-year-old has made just three appearances under Redknapp, and last appeared in the 4-2 defeat at Burnley on the final day of last season.
Gareth Bale and Sandro have not been included in the 25-man list again, because they are aged 21 and therefore do not have to be officially named.
Tottenham named 16 ‘non homegrown players’ in their squad, two more than their last official roster following the January signings of Steven Pienaar and Bongani Khumalo.
Non homegrown (16): Assou-Ekotto, Bassong, Corluka, Cudicini, Gomes, Gallas, Hutton, Kaboul, Khumalo, Kranjcar, Modric, Palacios, Pavlyuchenko, Pienaar, Pletikosa, Van der Vaart.
Homegrown (9): Alnwick, Crouch, Dawson, Defoe, Huddlestone, Jenas, King, Lennon, Woodgate.
Aged 21 and under: Bale, Sandro