Give ‘crock’ King a new deal, pleads Redknapp

Daniel Levy has been urged by Harry Redknapp to hand Tottenham club captain Ledley King a new long-term deal. King is out of contract at the end of next season, and his injury problems - the 28-year-old can play only once a week due to ongoing knee trouble - meant the option of a pay-as-you-play deal was one Spurs might have considered.

But Redknapp left chairman Levy in no doubt about how highly he valued King, who has figured in 19 of Spurs' 41 games this term.

The manager has already ruled the defender out of contention for tomorrow's clash with fellow Premier League strugglers Middlesbrough as King played in the Carling Cup Final, but knows his importance to the team.

"If you get 20 games a year out of Ledley, he is worth a fortune," said Redknapp. "He is that good. As long as he's capable of playing football, I would want Ledley here as long as I am here.

"He deserves that. He has given so much to this club after coming here as a schoolboy. You would like to think he would be part of this club for many years to come, as a player, and then who knows from there?

"I haven't spoken to the chairman about it, but one thing is for sure: he deserves to be looked after, and I'm sure the chairman will look after him very well, to make sure we keep him and that he is part of everything we do."

While King is out of the Middlesbrough game, fellow central-defenders Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate are available for the vital match at White Hart Lane - Boro are in the relegation zone but only two points below 14th-placed Spurs.

Dawson was limping heavily at the end of the cup final defeat to Manchester United but will play. Woodgate, who failed a fitness test on an Achilles injury before Sunday's match, is also fit meaning King's absence will not be as strongly felt.

Winger Aaron Lennon should also feature having recovered from the knock he picked up at Wembley.