Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has defended his Europa League line-up for their defeat to PAOK Salonika.

Redknapp insists playing youngsters and fringe players has been worthwhile this season as it has allowed his team to maintain the excellent league form which has seen them move to third in the table.

"It was a different team and it is hard when you make a lot of changes," Redknapp said.

"Look at what happened to Manchester United (who lost to Crystal Palace last night with a weakened team). They lost. It happens all the time.

"We have been lucky so far and the important thing is that we have the players fresh for the Premier League at the weekend.

"We have changed the team in this competition and that is why we have done so well in the league, where we have won nine and drawn one in our last 10 games.

"If we had Roman Pavlyuchenko and Giovani Dos Santos fit, we would not have played Luka Modric, Jermain Defoe or Aaron Lennon."