Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has defended Aaron Lennon ahead of their clash at Chelsea.

Lennon has cried off claiming his hamstring is not up to the task. It is not the first time the England man has declared himself unfit before a big match.

Redknapp said: "We have to give him enough time to make sure it is right and he can come back and play the last eight or nine games for us rather than playing one game and breaking down again. We can't afford that risk."