JAMIE REDKNAPP is losing his battle to play for Liverpool again this season - but he will be fit for England's World Cup bid if required.
The Anfield midfielder, who is poised to sign a new five-year contract, has missed the Reds' last two games after tweaking his
knee ligaments against Coventry City last month.
The injury forced him to pull out of England's squad for the friendly with Portugal and national coach Hoddle then set Redknapp an ultimatum - insisting he had to play before the end of the campaign to be considered for France 98.
Redknapp has made steady progress in a bid to prove his fitness, but time is now running out.
He is unlikely to figure against champions Arsenal at Anfield tomorrow and has only an ''outside chance'' of playing in Liverpool's final game of the season against Derby County on Sunday.
But he would be fit to take part in England's final World Cup warm-up games - and must pin his hopes on a change of heart from
Hoddle.
"We will have a look at him tomorrow," said Liverpool manager Roy Evans.
"But tomorrow might be a bit too soon. We will have a look for Sunday. That is probably his best chance, but it is still an outside chance.
"But Jamie will be fit for England if needed. It is not a long term problem."
Jamie Redknapp today signed a new long-term contract, believed to be in the region of five years, with Liverpool.
And the England midfielder revealed that he had no second thoughts when the deal was offered to him.
Redknapp said: "Once Liverpool had asked me to sign again, there was no hesitation. I just wanted to get it done as soon as
possible.
"I'm absolutely delighted with the deal and I'm looking forward to winning some trophies again with Liverpool."
And manager Roy Evans added that the deal would be an important factor in Liverpool's challenge for honours next season.
"We're delighted to get Jamie's signature and his new contract is obviously a major boost for the club.
"His form this season has been outstanding. Jamie is a key member of the team. And it is important for the success of the side that we keep our best young players," Evans told Clubcall.
Jamie Redknapp is praying that two years of injury frustration will be ended by his inclusion in Glenn Hoddle's final World Cup
22.
The Liverpool midfielder has certainly been the victim of more than a fair share of misfortune when on England duty. During Euro 96 he suffered damaged ankle ligaments against Scotland and then 12 months ago he fractured the same ankle against South Africa at Wembley.
Redknapp came in from the cold for the B international against Switzerland in Arrau in March when he oprated as a sweeper.
But the injury hoodoo looked to have ended his World Cup dreams a month ago when he suffered a knee ligament injury
against Coventry after a challenge by England colleague Dion Dublin.
However, Redknapp has fought his way back to a sufficient fitness level to be able to take part in England's first training session in preparation for Saturday's World Cup warm up international with Saudi Arabia.
Now he is optimistic that he will be able to prove his fitness by the Friday deadline given him by Hoddle if he is to be
considered for France 1998.
Redknapp said: "I think I am due a bit of luck. It would be nice to have that change in fortune. I've had two or three injuries when with England and it's been a bit bizarre. It's been a bit hard to understand and very frustrating. It's not as if they have been little injuries.
"It all really started with that Scotland game when I just happened to land badly on my ankle but it was never right for another year. It never felt good during the following season and in a way to break it against South Africa, as a result of a nothing tackle, was a blessing in disguise.
"It healed fine after that and since then my ankle has felt brilliant although again I didn't want the time out of action.
"People ask me why I keep getting injured but I have just had to accept it is one of those things that happen.
"I am very dedicated. I look after myself as well as any player can and the last injury against Coventry was just the result of a
challenge by Dublin. But I felt good in training today and I know this is a vital few days for me improving my fitness with the World Cup in mind.
"I feel confident I will meet the deadline set by the manager. My deadline to be fit is earlier than for other people and there is extra pressure.
"But it is not a problem. There is pressure every day as a footballer. I just hope I can do enough to get into that final 22 for France. That is the dream I want to achieve."
Jamie Redknapp is confident he can meet Glenn Hoddle's end of week deadline to prove he is fit enough to be considered for a
place in his World Cup squad.
The Liverpool midfielder was effectively written off in some quarters for France 1998 after suffering a knee ligament injury
against Coventry at Highfield Road four weeks ago.
But Redknapp is optimistic that he can deliver some positive news to Hoddle after a trio of long term injury setbacks when on
international duty.
The player has won eight caps but in the process been laid low for four months with a hamstring problem (Switzerland 1995);
five months with damaged ankle ligaments (Scotland 1996); plus another five months with a fractured ankle (South Africa
1997).
Now he has set his sights on being part of Hoddle's plans for what he regards as "the pinnacle" this summer after a successful
training comeback in preparation for Saturday's World Cup warm-up international with Saudi Arabia at the twin towers.
Redknapp admitted: "I never thought when I picked up the injury against Coventry that it was over as far as getting fit to have a chance of being selected for France.
"There was a bit of panic when I had the scan and realised I was going to be out for two to three weeks. But it was being suggested that I had to be fit for the last game of the season with Liverpool otherwise I could forget being part of the England squad - and I never saw it that way.
"To be honest I don't think I would have done myself any favours if I had come back for the final game. But now I feel good. It is a vital few days for me but I feel confident that I can meet the dead-line set by the manager to prove
my fitness.
"I will be taking each game at a time - but if I continue to feel like I did after the first training sessions then I will be very pleased.
Jamie Redknapp today admitted that his withdrawal from England World Cup warm-up squad was a matter of "honesty."
The Liverpool midfielder ruled himself out of the running for Glenn Hoddle's final 22-man squad with a knee
injury.
"I picked up the injury against Coventry about a month ago," he said.
"I tore a few fibres in my lateral ligament which usually takes about four to six weeks and it has been four
weeks now.
"It just hasn't felt right. I've been playing for the last couple of days and to be fair I only felt 70% fit. It hasn't
gone again but I'm not quite there.
"I wouldn't be fair to myself or the England manager if I were to carry on.You can't play when you're not 100% fit especially at this level. So I thought it would be the right thing to do."
Redknapp added that he had been invited to travel with the England party to the finals by Hoddle.
"I'd love to take up the offer but it's not quite the same as being involved in the squad.But it's very nice of him and hopefully I'll get over there to watch a couple of the games and cheer the lads on," Redknapp said.
Twelve days ago(12th May) Jamie Redknapp couldn't have been happier.
His Liverpool future had been assured for the next five seasons when he signed a new contract.
A day later he was told he was in England's provisional squad of 30 for the World Cup and, he believed, well
on course to proving that the jinx that always seems to destroy his international ambitions was behind him.
"Don't worry, I'll be OK for England," he said after completing another punishing session in the weights room
at Liverpool's Mellwood training ground.
Redknapp was hard at it, battling to regain full fitness in time to force England coach Glenn Hoddle to take
him to France.
Now Redknapp's dreams are in tatters. He knows that the knee injury received so unluckily at Coventry on April 19 will not recover in time for him totake his place in the greatest spectacle in world soccer. It was such an innocuous challenge, too. The Highfield Road clash was almost over, 73 minutes gone to be accurate.
Redknapp won the ball in midfield and tried to push it past his England pal Dion Dublin. The Coventry striker
eased himself away from the challenge but as the pair passed each other, Dublin clipped Redknapp's knee,sending him spinning to the turf. Dublin realised immediately what had happened, a complete accident, and he turned to pat Redknapp on the head in apology as he walked away.
Redknapp took no further part in the action and was helped away by Liverpool physio Mark Leather.
Redknapp left the ground on crutches while his England pals were driven straight to Bisham Abbey to link up
with Hoddle's squad preparing for the international with Portugal.
Redknapp went to hospital for treatment and joined up later with the party so that England's medical experts
could assess the damage. He was sent straight back to Anfield for treatment.
Since then Redknapp has been hoping beyond hope that his international career will not be blighted again.
Hoddle told him he had to play before the end of the season to prove his fitness, but even that was overlooked when it was clear Redknapp seemed near to fitness.
He said then: "I could probably have played in the last game at Derby, butit was decided not to risk it because
one more week would make it OK.
"It was a relief to be in the squad, Roy Evans must have had a word with Glenn about me. The Coventry
game was a week too early and if I'd risked it I could have been put back months.
"My general fitness is good, I've played close on 30 games this season andonly missed the last three weeks."
Redknapp did miss the first 13 games of the season. He was recovering from a broken leg received while
playing for England at Old Trafford the previous season against South Africa on May 24.
His first game back for Liverpool was in the disastrous UEFA Cup exit inStrasbourg on October 21. That
return was a risk, a bit too early, but be battled through the game.
From then on he missed only a handful of games for Liverpool, before that injury at Coventry.
He got his first England call of the season in February when he agreed to play an experimental sweeper role in an Under 21 match against Switzerland.
It was Hoddle's idea, and for all Redknapp's effort, it didn't work. But it underlined just how determined Redknapp was to do whatever was asked of him at international level to win a coveted place in the final 22 for France.
Pop star Louise Nurding has married Liverpool footballer Jamie Redknapp on a luxury yacht in Bermuda.
The couple arrived at the luxury 130ft cruiser called Lady Tamara in separate horse-drawn carriages, before sailing into the
beautiful blue waters to exchange their vows.
Louise, 23, wore a cream off-the-shoulder knee-length dress, while Jamie, 25, wore a black safari suit.
There to witness the hour-long ceremony were 50 friends and family, including Jamie's famous father Harry Redknapp the West
Ham manager, according to the Royal Gazette in Bermuda.
Jamie's soccer pal at Liverpool Phil Babb was best man at the quiet wedding.
The boat left dock at Darrell's Wharf in Warwick near Hamilton at 1.30pm local time and sailed into the bright blue open
waters of the Great Sand stretch of water, where it sailed for several hours before docking and the guests moved on to the
Marriott Castle Harbour Hotel, where the reception is being held.
The couple had each enjoyed separate hen and stag parties on Saturday night when Jamie was joined by Phil on a lads' night
out ending up in the Oasis nightclub in Hamilton, the capital city. 
Louise decked out with the traditional hen night balloons and stickers enjoyed an evening with girl friends, which started in the Elbow Beach Hotel where the couple have been staying, before moving on a nightclub called The Club.
But her close friends the Spice Girls, who were rumoured to be making a guest appearance at the wedding, did not arrive.
JAMIE REDKNAPP suffered another blow in his injury-plagued career yesterday when he was forced to undergo surgery to
cure his knee problem. The Liverpool midfielder, forced out of Glenn Hoddle's plans for France '98, had micro-surgery last
night after a scan revealed a small cartilage tear in his left knee.
The latest problem recurred in training, with the 25-year-old midfielder experiencing a slight twinge, leading to a visit to a
specialist. It is the same injury which Redknapp sustained following an accidental collision with England team-mate Dion Dublin during the clash with Coventry on April 19.
But the good news for Liverpool is that Redknapp could be sidelined for only three weeks and should be fit for the new season.
Joint Anfield manager Roy Evans said: "Jamie felt a niggle in training and got the slightest of tears in his cartilage.
"It was a little carry over from the injury he had at the end of last season and he has had it tidied up. We needed to deal with it straight away so that it was out of the way for the start of the season. It's disappointing because Jamie had been looking good in training and his fitness is excellent. The lad has had no luck at all."
Redknapp, however, is ruled out of Liverpool's tour of Scandinavia and Ireland next week and his catalogue of injury woe goes back three years to the hamstring he tore on England duty against Switzerland.
The unlucky Redknapp required an another operation at the end of January following another slight tear in his cartilage, a
problem which ruled him out for three weeks. And if he does miss the match at Southampton on August 15, it will be the third
successive time he has been unable to play in the Premiership opener.
Last season, Redknapp broke his ankle and damaged ligaments in England's 2-1 win over South Africa at Old Trafford and spent four months out of action. He needed a similar period of rehabilitation after originally damaging his ankle ligaments in the Euro '96 success over Scotland 11 months previously.
Jamie Rednapp is hoping his return from injury will prove a lucky omen as he seeks to relaunch his England
career. The talented midfielder made his first appearance of the season as a second-half substitute against Arsenal at the weekend after recovering from minor knee surgery.
And with Glenn Hoddle naming his squad on Thursday for England's opening European Championship
qualifier against Sweden on September 5, Redknapp could not have timed his comeback better.
The 25-year-old's progress at Liverpool has been hindered by a hamstring injury and broken ankle sustained
playing for his country, while a knee problem also ruled him out of the World Cup during the summer.
Now Redknapp is aiming to kick-start his career for club and country by landing a call-up from Hoddle and
then securing a starting place against Kenny Dalglish's Newcastle United on Sunday.
"I just want to get myself fit and playing for Liverpool regularly because then you have always got a chance of
getting into the England squad," said Redknapp. "That is always my main objective. But obviously I hope I am
still in Glenn's thoughts for England. When I picked up the injury at Coventry at the end of last season he kept
me in the squad before I had to pull out. And Glenn rang me while he was away in France with England to
find out how I was and I appreciated that."
Redknapp continued: "I feel good now. I have had a reserve game and it was just pleasing to be out there
against Arsenal. As for this next England game, we'll have to wait and see. Ive only had a 20-minute spell so
far this season, and I don't know whether I will get a full run-out at Newcastle on Sunday."
"That may well be a bit close as far as England's concerned. But it's not up to me."
Midfielder Jamie Redknapp could have been forgiven for having his fingers and toes secretly crossed under the table as he
declared his hope that his return to the England fold would represent a new beginning in his injury-plagued career.
Redknapp has been cursed over recent years by a wretchedly-frustrating habit of picking up injuries while on international duty, restricting a player of his obvious talent to a relatively meagre eight caps.
Now, after recovering from minor surgery on his cartilage over the summer, he is back in the England squad for Saturday's
opening Euro 2000 qualifying game in Sweden.
And the absence of David Beckham through suspension as well as Nicky Butt and David Batty through injury, could enable him
to resume his Liverpool midfield partnership with Paul Ince for his country.
But what have seemed in the past to be new beginnings for the 25-year-old have often turned out to be false dawns. He tore a hamstring in the early minutes of the friendly against Switzerland in November 1995, damaged ankle ligaments after
coming on as a substitute in the Euro 96 game against Scotland and broke the same ankle against South Africa a year later.
Then last April, he damaged a cartilage in a tackle with Coventry's Dion Dublin at Highfield Road - an injury which was to rule him out of England's World Cup squad despite being named in the final pool of 30 players.
Yet throughout all these adversities, Redknapp insists that despite an understandable degree of paranoia when he picks up a
knock, he has not lost his positive attitude and confidence.
He declared: "I haven't counted, obviously, but I reckon I've probably lost over a year and a half of my career through injury so far. I've still got eight England caps, although I'm pretty sure that if I hadn't had the injuries, I might have got a few more.
"But I've got to be positive about things as I've played a lot of good games. The way I am, I like to look forward instead of
looking back. You can't sit there and think that I've had all the injuries and I'm going to get another one. I just want to be positive about things now, and hopefully, it could be a new beginning for me."
Asked when he was last at full fitness and playing at the top of his game for his country, Redknapp joked: "With the England
Under-18s."
But he insists that he has never once doubted that he would make a full recovery from any of his injury setbacks.
"Sometimes people say, 'Oh, you've had so many injuries, do you think you'll ever be all right?' But I've never once thought that I wouldn't get back, as if you do think like that, then you're in trouble. The ankle was obviously a bit worrying at the time, but I've always felt confident that I would get back and be as strong as ever."
"It's a matter of working hard, and the harder you work, I think the more chance you have of getting fitter and stronger again."
Admitting that he was not fit enough to travel to France for the World Cup was one of the hardest decisions he has ever had to
make.
"It was difficult, but you've got to be professional about things and look at the long-term future. It's no good me saying that I was okay and then playing a game and I could be out for even longer," added Redknapp.
"The World Cup would have been one of the most fantastic things that has ever happened to me, but it just wasn't to be. I just wouldn't have been fit anyway.
"It's a horrible feeling - there's nothing worse for any player than to be thinking at the back of your mind that there's something wrong with you. I actually do get a bit paranoid about things, given the past I've had with injuries. Usually, I'm not too wrong but hopefully, now I've seen the back of them"
Get your ownFree Home Page