Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate backed under-fire teammate Hossam Ghaly, amid the club supporters' hostile stance against the Egyptian. Ghaly was in line to make his season debut against Wigan last Friday, his first appearance since the infamous shirt-throwing incident in May 2007. However, the 27-year-old was strenuously jeered by his own-club fans, which forced manager Harry Redknapp to back down on his decision to bring him in during the FA Cup win. "He's bound to be down. The boss has given him a chance and he's been working really hard. He wants to try to play for Spurs," Woodgate told the Daily Star. "You can't ruin it. Fans have to get behind him. We need players like him. Let him back on the pitch then he can try to do something. "I just want to get that message across. We're in it together and we need as many players as we can." Break Woodgate reasserted Redknapp's plea for the fans to pardon Ghaly, who apologized for his tantrum during Martin Jol's spell at the club. "He'll handle it but it's not nice being booed for a mistake two years ago," the England center-half added. "We all make mistakes. He made one that day and I'm sure he's learned from it. I just want the fans to give him a break." Ghaly was on brink of leaving White Hart Lane on more than one occasion, but he eventually stayed with the London club despite the torrid atmosphere around him.
