Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has lavished praise on Ledley King following the 2-0 win over Wolves at the weekend.
King was thrown into the starting XI after Michael Dawson suffered an achilles complaint in training in the build-up to the game.
It was the 30-year-old’s first appearance of the season and, despite hardly any pre-season training behind him, Redknapp has singled King out for his performance on Saturday.
“Ledley is an amazing player. He only ever trains for a few minutes the day before a game,” Redknapp said.
“It will take all week now for his knee to go down and then we will try and get him on the park next Sunday (against Liverpool) but he is one of the best centre-halves you will ever see.
“It is no coincidence that he comes back into the side and we win 2-0. I brought him back at Liverpool at the end of last season and we also won 2-0 there.
“He is different class, he gives an air of confidence, he knows what he is doing.
“People around Ledley respond to him.
“He doesn’t make too many last-ditch tackles because he is already in position to deal with it.
“Like the Bobby Moores and Alan Hansens over the years, they understand what they are doing – and that’s what he does.”
Redknapp has also confirmed that barely any of the starting XI from Saturday’s win will travel to Greece for the club’s Europa League opener against PAOK.
“I had nine players missing in Corluka, Gallas, Dawson, Rose, Lennon, Sandro, Huddlestone, Pienaar and Van der Vaart. That is a good team,” he added.
“The problem I’ve got on Thursday is I can’t really take this lot who’ve played at Wolves.
“They’ve played two internationals and I’ve got to take them out to Greece for Thursday, come back Friday and play Liverpool on Sunday.
“It is a nuisance. There won’t be too many of these going to Greece. I want to save them for Sunday.”