Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has been encouraged to "slap around" striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Redknapp was warned by the Russian star's former manager that the 26-year-old the needed "a bit of help," getting motivated and that a slap around the chops or being dropped to the reserves did wonders for concentration.

Former Spartak Moscow manager Vladimir Fedotov told Sport Express newspaper: "When I had the feeling that he wasn't going to be in the right mood for a game, I gave him a bit of help.

"So I had to shout at him or sometimes even slap him around the face ... I did it fairly softly although I do have a good punch if I need to.

"Pavlyuchenko is a very gifted footballer. It was easy for me to work with him as I knew his strong sides and his weaknesses.

"His greatest disadvantage is that if he is not in the right mood for the game he is an absolute disaster. He becomes a sap. I hope in England they'll get rid of this habit.

"It was important that I noticed his moods well in advance. If I didn't spot it, he'd wander around the pitch like a lost boy and it was impossible to do anything with him after kick-off." Another former Spartak manager, Stranislav Cherchesov, also said the Russian hitman had motivational problems that had to be overcome.

He said: "After watching him play in England I'm glad to see that Pavlyuchenko comes on the pitch much more motivated than he did for an average game in Russia.

"Evidently this English football is new and interesting to him. I had to exile him to the reserves for a game once to make him change his attitude. It was a harsh decision for a manager to make. Initially he was awfully offended. His pride was hurt. He couldn't understand what he was being punished for.

"I'm sure by now he realised that temporary exile did him a lot of good. And not only for him but Spartak and the Russian national team too."