Spurs boss laughs off claims he was wrong to sell QPR star

Redknapp has no regrets over Taarabt

Harry Redknapp believes that Adel Taarabt will “start with a bang” in the Premier League with QPR – but refutes suggestions that he should have kept the maverick Moroccan.

Taarabt, 22, was at Tottenham when Harry Redknapp arrived in October 2008, but made just three appearances as a substitute before being loaned to QPR in March 2009.

Having ended the season at Loftus Road, and returned to Rangers for the whole of the following campaign, Taarabt’s loan became permanent in a �1million move last summer.

Since then, the Moroccan international has captained Neil Warnock’s side to promotion, scoring 19 goals and winning the Championship Player of the Year award - and Redknapp expects his former player to pick up where he left off when he returns to the top flight.

“I’ll be interested to see how he does,” said the Tottenham boss. “I think for the first month or two in the Premier League he’ll be sensational - then we’ll find out if can maintain it. But he’ll start with a bang, I’m sure.”

Taarabt’s performances for QPR have caused some Spurs fans to question Redknapp’s decision to sell the unpredictable livewire - but the Tottenham manager has no regrets.

“He [Taarabt] played in pre-season with us in New York last summer,” he recalled. “I played him in midfield there with Luka Modric – and Luka’s still recovering from it.”

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