Redknapp: Tough to turn down England

Harry Redknapp admits the England manager's job is a "poisoned chalice" and insists he has not been approached by the Football Association about taking over from Fabio Capello after Euro 2012.

EURO 2012 QUALIFYING

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Redknapp is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Capello when the Italian's contract expires next summer.

Redknapp's stock has risen remarkably since taking charge at Spurs, dragging the Londoner from the relegation zone to a Champions League quarter-final place during his three-year spell at the helm.

And while Redknapp would gladly take the England job, he also admits the position does have its drawbacks.

Asked whether the job is a poisoned chalice, Redknapp said: "Yes. (But) It would be difficult for any Englishman to turn the job down.

"I'm not pushing myself for the job; whoever gets offered the job, if they're an Englishman it would be hard to say no because it's your country."

Reports recently claimed that the FA even wanted Redknapp to take over from Capello before Euro 2012.

However, the Spurs boss is adamant that he has had no contact from the FA and insists he has never spoken to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy about it.

"I haven't heard anything from anybody so I'll just get on with my job and see what happens," said Redknapp ahead of Spurs' Europa League clash against PAOK Salonika on Thursday night.

"You never know what happens in this game do you? You never know what's just around the corner.

"I've never discussed anything with Daniel about England. There are plenty of other boys about who could do the job. We'll see how we go."

Redknapp will make 10 changes to his side on Thursday from the one that beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday.

With one eye on Sunday's league game against Liverpool, the 64-year-old has left the likes of Luka Modric, Scott Parker, Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor at home.

That means youngsters Yago Falque, Jake Livermore, Andros Townsend and Tom Carroll are likely to be given a chance to impress in what is expected to be a white-hot atmosphere generated by PAOK's fanatical support.

Redknapp has always made it clear he puts the Premier League ahead of Europe and recently described Thursday night's game as a "nuisance".

But he insists that he is not disrespecting the competition, pointing to Spurs' mounting injury list and the importance of Sunday's game as the reason why he has left so many players in London.

"It's not a case of prioritising a game, it's just (using) what I have got," Redknapp said.

"I couldn't bring players out here, play them on Thursday night and play the same group against Liverpool.

"If I get a few injuries I have no back up. I have nine senior, very, very good players who are injured.

"Some of them have played two international games so I wanted to change the team around. I have done that. I have not been able to use the strong group I have for this first game because they're not fit."

One player who will start on Thursday is goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. The Brazilian was Redknapp's number one last season but has not been on the bench for the last three games thanks to the form of new signing Brad Friedel and the re-emergence of Carlo Cudicini.

Gomes has been linked with a return to former club PSV, but Redknapp added: "I think he does have a future with Tottenham.

"He's obviously upset he's been left out. It's been difficult. I brought Brad in, there's competition for places and I just decided to go with Brad. It was my gut feeling."