Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp denies taking the mick out of Roman Pavlyuchenko for their clash at Manchester United.

Pavlyuchenko spoke out in his native Russia this week about his unhappiness at Tottenham, describing his fears that the manager was 'mocking' him by leaving him on the bench.

He has not started a Barclays Premier League game all season and has not appeared in any competition since October but rejected the chance to start against United at Old Trafford on December 1, a game Spurs lost 2-0.

Manager Redknapp said: "He said his head wasn't right to play, that was the problem with him. It's hard to understand. He came to see me and said he didn't really feel that he could play.

"I said I was going to play him against Man United but he said, 'I'm not ready to play, my head's not right' I can't put a player on the pitch not knowing if his head's right.

"After Russia got knocked out of the World Cup, he said his head wasn't right and said that he wants to leave. He wants to move. I'm not crazy to shift him out, he's a talented footballer.

"But he's been to see the chairman with his people and now it's up to the chairman and whoever wants to buy him to make the right offer."