Young: I made the right move

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Charlton defender Luke Young claimed today that he has no regrets about leaving Tottenham in the summer.

Young faces his former Spurs team-mates tomorrow for the first time since moving away from White Hart Lane in search of regular first-team football.

The England Under-21 international shocked manager Glenn Hoddle by asking to leave the club he had joined as a 10-yearold schoolboy. But now both parties believe the move has turned out for the best.

Young, 22, has been a consistent performer for Charlton, where he has managed to concentrate on making the rightback berth his own.

He said: "I've no regrets about leaving Spurs, even though it was a difficult decision to make at the time. After all, I'd been there since I was 10 and had supported the club as a kid.

"But I wanted regular firstteam football and at Spurs I always seemed to be stepping in when we had a problem position or when someone else was injured. I couldn't see myself playing regularly this season, so I thought it was time to push on.

"I was playing in different positions and didn't want to become a utility player. I wanted to settle down and make one position my own and that was as a right-back.

"Glenn was surprised when I told him this but he could understand my reasons and I must thank him for helping me to get a move and for letting me go. When I left, he took me aside and wished me good luck.

"Although he wanted me to stay, he told me he saw me as a squad player and that was not what I wanted to hear at that stage. I didn't want to start the season in the team and then be back out again after a couple months, so I thought it better to leave. I wanted to test myself at the highest level, week-in and week-out.

"I still enjoy watching Spurs and Mauricio Taricco has been brilliant for them this season. They are playing some great stuff. But the move has been good for me and my new manager, Alan Curbishley, is a great motivator. Although I am still on a learning curve, I've got what I wanted."

Hoddle agrees that Young's switch to Charlton has worked out well for the player and for Spurs.

He said: "I must admit, I was surprised when he came in and told me he wanted to go but I could understand his reasons. I agreed but it had to be a deal that was right for the club and £4 million was a good price.

"In the long term, I think the move was right for him and for us. I saw him play at Chelsea earlier this week and it was probably his best game since moving to Charlton."

Hoddle continues to have a few injury worries for the trip to The Valley tomorrow as Spurs look to stretch their unbeaten run to five games.

Les Ferdinand is still doubtful with an ankle injury that required treatment after the win over Bolton on Monday.

German international Christian Ziege is recovering from a knock he picked up in the same game and Hoddle is still unsure whether full-back Taricco will be fit. Ukrainian international Sergei Rebrov will continue to partner Teddy Sheringham in attack if Ferdinand is not fit.

Hoddle said: "Mauricio's injury is a bit of a concern for us at the moment. He is still struggling with his ankle and hasn't really trained over the last three weeks. He is still in some discomfort.

"The physios have worked hard on Les all this week and I would say he has an outside chance of being fit."

If Ferdinand does not make it Hoddle may include Norwegian striker Steffen Iversen among his sustitutes. Iversen, out since September, came through his first 90 minutes in a friendly against Southend this week.

Hoddle said: "He's not 100 per cent ready yet but if Les is not fit then he could do a job on the bench and would be fine for 20 minutes as a substitute."

Republic of Ireland international Gary Doherty has set his sights on a January return and has not ruled out making Mick McCarthy's World Cup squad next summer.

Doherty, whose leg was broken during a Worthington Cup game against Torquay in September, said: "I saw the specialist two weeks ago and it's all going really well. I'm off my crutches and I'm walking quite easily on it now.

"It is up to me to get the fitness work done and seeing how early I can get back.

"I broke the fibia and damaged my ankle ligaments in my left foot. They had to put a plate in my leg and a pin through the ankle. It was quite painful.

"Although I've always been a fringe player with the Republic, if I can get back and put in some good performances for Tottenham, who knows. I could be on the plane out to Japan."

Charlton Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur
3pm, tomorrow, The Valley

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