Jurgen Klinsmann plays down Tottenham speculation

Jurgen Klinsmann has been linked with Tottenham should Harry Redknapp become England manager (GETTY IMAGES)

Jurgen Klinsmann insists he is happy in his current role as United States head coach despite speculation that the he could take over as Tottenham manager should Harry Redknapp depart for England.

Redknapp is the overwhelming favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager following the Italian's shock resignation last week.

Although Redknapp admits it would be heart-breaking to leave a club where he has enjoyed so much success, the 64-year-old has already declared his interest in taking on the national side, conceding last week that the role would be the "ultimate" for any English manager.

United States coach Klinsmann, a fan favourite from two playing spells at Spurs, has been mentioned as a possible successor but he played down those rumours today.

He said: "I'm very happy in my role as USA manager and busy preparing for the start of World Cup qualifying this summer."

Redknapp was last week cleared of two charges of tax evasion in a draining 13-day trial and he has now taken a break for a few days to rest and recuperate ahead of Sunday's FA Cup game against Stevenage.

The former Portsmouth manager did little to dampen speculation that he wants to take the national job by talking at length about the England team following Saturday evening's 5-0 win over Newcastle.

The win, which kept Tottenham within seven points of the Barclays Premier League summit, was thanks in no small part to the efforts of Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Togo striker, who is on a season-long loan from Manchester City, set up the Londoners' first four goals before adding one of his own in the second half.

The goal - his first in 713 minutes of competitive action - came as a huge relief to the former Arsenal man.

"I had a tough time. I didn't score for a few games but I came back and scored and I made a lot of assists," Adebayor told Spurs TV Online. "It's good for the confidence. We are all human. When you go through four, five, six games without scoring you start questioning yourself.

"You start saying: 'what is happening? What is wrong?'

"I got some stick from my team-mates as well - in a good way - so I was happy to score and to help the team win.

"I've worked hard in training and my team-mates all believe in me and what I can do."

Saturday was also a successful day for Spurs new boy Louis Saha.

Many had questioned why Redknapp signed the 33-year-old, but he linked up well with Adebayor to register his first two Tottenham goals inside 20 minutes of his first start.

Former Metz man Adebayor was impressed with how well he worked Saha, who he knows from their time in France together.

He said: "It was easy because I know him from France and I know how he plays.

"We talked a lot before the game. I know where he goes on the pitch and we talked a lot on the pitch. That made it easy for us."

Redknapp is likely to rest a number of his stars for this weekend's fifth-round clash against npower League Two side Stevenage.

Ledley King, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric are all expected to be rested as Tottenham play Arsenal and Manchester United in their following two matches.

King, who suffers from a chronic knee injury, is out of contract at the end of the season and Redknapp said earlier this term that he would have to play at least 20 games to earn a new one.

The Spurs club captain, who has made 15 appearances so far this year, is happy to leave discussions about his future until the end of the season.

He said: "I've left it between my agent and the chairman and I have not heard anything at the moment. I'm just keeping my head down and playing as many games as I can and at the end of the season we will see where that is."

PA