'He Can Have All the Aggro and he Comes Out and Plays'

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has backed beleaguered Chelsea captain John Terry to put his off-field troubles behind him in Thursday's London derby at White Hart Lane.

Terry is set to feature in tonight's clash despite the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service to press charges following allegations of racial abuse by the player.

The Chelsea defender is set to appear at West London magistrates' court on 1 February over comments he is alleged to have made towards the QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during a match between the two sides at Loftus Road in October.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas will include his captain in tonight's match and has backed the player to put the controversy behind him.

"He has my full support, the club's full support," said the Chelsea manager at a press conference immediately before the CPS announced Terry would be charged. "He represents this club to a maximum level and we're very grateful to have a player of his quality in our team, in what he represents in terms of history and achievements at the club.

And Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has been impressed with how Terry has coped in the face of abuse from opposition fans since the allegations first broke and revealed he expects him to put in a big performance in north London tonight.

"Nothing seems to have affected his performance on the pitch. He can have all the aggro and he comes out and plays and he just seems to be the same," Redknapp said.

"I remember the problem Leeds had [when Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate were charged with grievous bodily harm in 2001].

"Bowyer was coming out of court, playing in European games and being the best player. Woodgate was in bits. He couldn't handle anything. It just affects people differently."

Meanwhile, Redknapp believes Luka Modric is unlikely to leave Spurs in January and remains confident the Croatian playmaker will sign a new deal before the end of the season.

Modric was the subject of one of the summer's most protracted transfer sagas when Tottenham rejected a reported offer of £40m from Chelsea, but chairman Daniel Levy refused to sanction a deal and the 26-year-old was not allowed to leave.

"I don't expect Luka to want to go anywhere. I think the Chelsea deal is dead," Redknapp said.

"He's happy here. I don't know where he's at with his contract talks with the chairman but I'm sure they'll get something done.

"I don't see there being a problem with Luka. No matter what Chelsea offer, he isn't going. Not a chance."