Redknapp back to take charge of Tottenham

The 64-year-old missed the recent match against Fulham and the Europa League game with Rubin Kazan after undergoing minor heart surgery.

However, he told Sky Sports News last night he will take over from assistants Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond in the match at White Hart Lane.

Redknapp said: “I feel fine, I’ve got more energy than I had before. I’ll be on the bench for sure.

“Sometimes you don’t realise there’s something wrong. I feel better than I did three weeks ago.”

Redknapp is hoping Rafael van der Vaart will have recovered from his hamstring injury to face Alex McLeish’s team, while Vedram Corluka is expected to be back in the squad after ankle trouble.

The game will be Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel’s 276th consecutive match in the Premier League.

The 40-year old, capped 82 times for the United States, joined Spurs from Villa in the summer and, according to Jordan, has made “a massive contribution” at White Hart Lane.

“He gives composure not just to the back four, but to the team,” Jordan said. “For me, he sends that out to the defence and the team and that is a massive contribution.”

Villa defender Richard Dunne is determined the success he has enjoyed with the Republic of Ireland will continue for him during a testing period for the Birmingham side which starts tonight at White Hart Lane.

Dunne, who helped recently the Republic to victory over Estonia to secure a place in Euro 2012, said: “I think it’s a great achievement what Ireland have managed and we’re delighted about what we’ve done – but that can’t be the end of it.

“There are some big games coming up for Villa and it’s going to be important for us to be on top form so we can pick up points in December.”

Dunne can see encouraging signs under McLeish since the Scot replaced Gerard Houllier during the summer.

The Irishman said: “We would like to have won a few more home games and, with our performances, we’ve deserved to achieve that.

“But we’ve made a very decent start and I think, with the manager coming in, the main aim was just to make us more solid.

“I think we’ve got that now, where we’re a very solid side and we’re difficult to beat.”