Redknapp: Rafa must get fitter

Redknapp: Rafa must get fitter

Published Nov. 12, 2010 8:03 a.m. ET

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes deadline-day signing Rafael van der Vaart needs to improve his fitness.

But Redknapp reckons the Holland midfielder showed signs of fatigue towards the end of Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland and still needs to fully adapt to playing in the Premier League.

Quoted in several newspapers, Redknapp said: "He should be okay for the weekend [against Blackburn]. He got tired, didn't he? He disappeared a bit, second half [against Sunderland].

"He's got to get fitter and adapt to playing 90 minutes in the Premier League. He's a fantastic player but I think he does just run out of steam a little bit at the moment."

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Van der Vaart aggravated a hamstring injury in Tottenham's 3-1 win over Inter Milan last month and sat out last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Bolton before making a goalscoring return to the side against the Black Cats.

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