Football
PA Sport 9y

Harry Redknapp insists he holds no grudges against Adel Taarabt

Harry Redknapp will welcome Adel Taarabt back into his QPR squad -- but only once the Moroccan playmaker has proved his fitness.

The pair fell out in October after Redknapp claimed Taarabt was "three stones overweight," prompting the gifted but erratic forward to respond by saying he was being used a scapegoat for the club's poor start to the season.

The 25-year-old has not played since because of a groin strain and has made just three Premier League appearances after returning from a six-month loan spell at AC Milan over the summer

Redknapp insists a fit Taarabt still has a future at Loftus Road and has no plans to off-load him in the January transfer window.

"It's up to Adel if he gets back into the team. Only he can get himself fit and ready to play. You can take a horse to water... but how far is the water?" Redknapp said.

"I don't look that far ahead to Jan. 1, I just want Adel to get fit and start playing football. We need him fit and playing. If he's fit he's back in he squad, I've told him that.

"I'll only be too pleased to have him involved. I don't hold grudges against him, I just want him fit.

"He's not training at the moment. He's back with the fitness coach. He's had a bit of a groin strain that he hasn't been able to shake off."

Redknapp is hoping to strengthen next month but knows QPR, who have average attendances of 17,000, will never be able to compete against bigger clubs in the transfer window.

"We're not talking about spending massive amounts of money. Maybe we can get a couple of loans in," Redknapp said. "You're only allowed 25 players whatever you do. If a couple come in, we have to let a couple out. That's how it works.

"It's not a level playing field and never will be. There are probably seven teams up there at the top then everybody else has to get on with it.

"But that doesn't mean that on any given day you can't beat those teams, because you can. We nearly beat Manchester City and were better than Liverpool on the day."

QPR are hoping to edge away from the relegation zone when they face Everton at Goodison on Monday, but Redknapp knows England midfielder Ross Barkley will be a major threat to their ambition of claiming their first away points of the season.

"Barkley is top class and one the most exciting players in the Premier League," Redknapp said. "He has everything -- great ability, good physique, he's strong and runs with the ball, He's a real top young player."

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