Bookies’ favourite Redknapp backs Allardyce

Harry Redknapp has again distanced himself from reports linking him with a return to West Ham as a replacement for under-pressure manager Sam Allardyce.

QPR boss Redknapp, a former Hammers player and manager, is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over at Upton Park.

But he says he believes Allardyce will turn the east London side’s fortunes around if key players return from injury.

Redknapp said: “Sam has just been so unlucky. You can’t lose your central defenders and your strikers – the team’s been decimated.

“I don’t know what he can do. I look at the team and, no disrespect, it hasn’t been good enough because he’s lost or four or five of his best players.

“You take four or five players out of any team in the country and they’ll be nowhere near what they were.

“When everyone’s fit I think he’s got a team that would finish middle of the table. There’s no-one better than Sam around to get them out of the situation they’re in.

“He just needs a bit of luck now. He needs his centre-halves and Andy Carroll to get fit. If he gets them back, Sam’s your man – he’s excellent at his job.”

Redknapp claims he has no interest in a return to his ex-club and again insisted he is fully focused on the task of trying to get his current team back to the top flight.

He said: “I’ve got a great job at QPR, I’m enjoying it here and have got a real challenge on my hands to try to get these promoted.

“When Sam gets those players back I’m sure they’ll survive. It’s a great club with fantastic support and I think they’ve got good owners who love the club and have the right manager.”

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