Harry Redknapp advised to rest for ‘four to five weeks’

Harry Redknapp is expected to return to the touchline in four to five weeks after being advised by doctors to stay away from football following heart surgery.

Goals from Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and a late strike from Jermain Defoe helped Spurs extend their unbeaten run to eight league games with a 3-1 victory over Fulham on Sunday in the absence of Redknapp.

And the 64-year-old Spurs boss has revealed he hopes to be back in the technical area in around a month following Wednesday’s operation.

“I have got to listen what the doctors tell me and not get too stressed out,” Redknapp told Sky Sports. “Stress is what causes most of the problems anyway.

“I will be fine, I have just got to take my time and when I am ready come back and get on with it but not before I get the go-ahead from the people in charge.

“They have said I shouldn’t even think about football for four to five weeks and get myself stressed. I will see how I go but I hope to be back before then.”

Assistant manager Kevin Bond and first-team coach Joe Jordan have taken charge of the first team affairs while Redknapp recovers, overseeing the London side’s 1-0 defeat by Russian side Rubin Kazan and Sunday’s win at Craven Cottage.

And Jordan admitted Redknapp’s progress will have been tested by the tense manner of the victory at Fulham.

“That last half-hour will have been a good test for Harry,” Jordan said. “If he passes that, which I’m sure he will, he may be back a little bit earlier. He’s got another two weeks during the international break to recover.”