Sheringham backs Hoddle over Darren

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Teddy Sheringham believes Tottenham would be making a huge mistake by selling team- mate Darren Anderton.

As Glenn Hoddle preparesto stand firm over any deal that would see Anderton leaving White Hart Lane, his captain, who scored a superb volley in yesterday's 2-2 draw with UEFA Cup holders Feyenoord, backed Hoddle in forthright style.

Sheringham is convinced Spurs have four strikers - Les Ferdinand, Steffen Iversen, Sergei Rebrov and himself - capable of spearheading the club's Premiership challenge and believes losing Anderton, who played a starring role yesterday, would undermine that.

Sheringham said: "Selling Darren Anderton to make way for a striker is the wrong move. Darren is probably our best player and to let him go to bring in another striker of similar quality would be wrong.

"But then I am not the manager, and whatever the manager says I will go along with, give 100 per cent for the club and enjoy it.

"Darren could play for any one of the top teams in the country so there will be a lot of people after him but I would not let him go. I have got a great understanding with him and love playing with him.

"He is an outstanding player and everybody wants those. I don't want Darren to go anywhere."

The England forward also reckons Rebrov has a future at White Hart Lane, given the breaks that have so far eluded him since his move from Dynamo Kiev.

Rebrov, who did not play in Rotterdam, has failed to sparkle since joining the club for a record £11m fee but Sheringham still has faith in him.

He said: "I think we have got four outstanding strikers. Steffen and Les did very well as the spearhead of the team last year and Sergei is a very capable player.

"If he gets the chance and a little bit of confidence then he can come in and do a great job as well. He is an outstanding footballer but just hasn't had the breaks. There is a lot of hype about strikers we need but we have got four very capable ones."

Sheringham's comments will have reinforced Hoddle's determination to hang on to Anderton and Leeds United manager Terry Venables, a long-time admirer of Anderton, will be told there is no deal in the offing if he makes a move for the player.

Spurs, without Dean Richards, Jamie Redknapp, Ledley King, Rebrov, Gus Poyet, Steffen Freund, Ben Thatcher, Ferdinand, Anthony Gardner and Chinese triallist Qu Bo,put in a fine performance against the Dutch side and took the lead with a superbly executed goal from Sheringham, who was making his first start since returning from the World Cup.

Simon Davies carved out the opening and Anderton's cross was despatched into the bottom left-hand corner by Sheringham.

Feyenoord levelled after 36 minutes when Ramon Van Haaren beat Kasey Keller from 35 yards.

Full-back Steve Carr proved he was back to his best by giving Feyenoord star Leonardo a difficult time throughout, the Brazilian's frustration even driving him to rip open Carr's shirt in the first half.

Feyenoord looked to have won the game in the 72nd minute when Leeds target Brett Emerton's low cross was turned past Keller by Bonaventure Kalou from six yards.

Hoddle replaced the industrious Jonathan Blondel with Tim Sherwood and Sheringham with Gary Doherty. The changes paid off with four minutes to go when they were gifted an equaliser.

Kees Van Wonderen and goalkeeper Edwin Zoetebier got into a terrible tangle over a back pass and Iversen muscled past the keeper to put the ball into an empty net.

Hoddle added: "I thought we could have won it but we had to take Teddy off on the hour and I thought we were just getting on top at that point. It was a very good performance and I am very satisfied."

Milenko Acimovic's hamstring injury is not as serious as feared and the Slovenian may be available to play against Celtic on Wednesday.

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