Willing Korsten pleads for chance Football

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Willem Korsten today warned George Graham he will reconsider his Tottenham future unless he is given a chance in the first team.

The 26-year-old outcast is hoping to win a place in Graham's reshuffled side for tomorrow's FA Cup tie against Stockport at White Hart Lane, where Spurs will be without Darren Anderton, Chris Perry and Stephen Carr.

Anderton has a damaged Achilles tendon, Perry has stitches in a shin wound and Carr has suffered a recurrence of an abdominal injury in training.

Even so, Korsten's chances look limited following the return to fitness of strikers Les Ferdinand and Steffen Iversen.

The Dutchman will continue to battle for a place until the end of the season when, if his situation has not improved, he intends to talk things over with Graham.

Korsten has made only seven appearances in the Premiership this season despite scoring regularly in the reserves.

"I have been hoping for a chance in the first team but with all the strikers coming back fit now, it's going to be a difficult job for me," he said. "I've been disappointed with not getting a chance but the manager must have his reasons.

"All I can do is keep on working hard. I have not been in to see him about it. I don't think that would make any difference and it might be rocking the boat. I can't do anything more than I have in the reserves but I don't want to wait too long.

"I have another two years at the club after this one. I want to play for Tottenham but we will have to see what happens at the end of the season. I want to play but there is little I can do if the manager does not pick me.

"I will be keeping my options open. I wanted to play more this season but when you don't play you do have to look further because you have to think of your own future.

"While there is no doubt in my mind I made the right choice by coming to Spurs, I didn't come to England to play in the reserves."

Meanwhile, Anderton will tell Graham he no longer wants to play at wing-back when he recovers from the injury he collected at Manchester City last weekend.

The injury will keep Anderton out for at least two weeks, which means he will also miss England's friendly with Spain at Villa Park later this month. However, prior to being injured, he was already concerned that playing out of position would prevent him making Sven-Goran Eriksson's first squad.

He said: "I have been playing wing-back since Stephen Carr got injured and it isn't something I particularly enjoy. I don't really want to play there.

"I was asked if I'd mind filling in and I'm not the sort of player who will complain to the manager.

"It's difficult to say if it was affecting my England chances but I've played 29 times for my country so people know what I can do - I'm sure the new manager does. The disappointing thing is that when he's been to watch me play as wing-back I haven't done anything special."

While Anderton expects to return at the beginning of next month, Graham has accepted the probability that full-back Mauricio Taricco will be out for the rest of the season.

Taricco has been sidelined with a groin problem since Tottenham's 1-0 defeat by Charlton last September.

The Argentine is also suffering from back pain and has written off the remainder of the season in the hope that rest and further treatment will solve the trouble.

Graham said: "I have to say it is now very unlikely that Mauricio will be back this season.

"It is not his groin which is the problem now, the injury is more pelvic-related. He is continuing to have treatment, but it is very disappointing."

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