Jamie Redknapp: 'Ryan Mason holds key for Tottenham Hotspur success'

Jamie Redknapp has pinpointed Ryan Mason as the key to Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of winning the Capital One Cup final against Chelsea.

The midfielder has become a regular in the Spurs team under Mauricio Pochettino and was rested for his side's Europa League clash defeat against Fiorentina on Thursday in preparation for the showdown at Wembley.

Redknapp feels that Mason's battle with Cesc Fabregas in midfield will have a large bearing on who clinches the first piece of silverware of the season.

He wrote in the Daily Mail: "Mason was rested in the Europa League on Thursday and that shows you how highly rated he is by Mauricio Pochettino.

"The middle of the park is where the game is won and lost and Mason must and can get after Fabregas. He can't let Fabregas dictate the game, he must hurry him up all the time, make him uncomfortable.

"I like Mason. Some players kick a ball and others pass it. He passes it. He'll be nervous — I remember cramping up in my first Wembley final — but he is key to Tottenham winning."

Tottenham and Chelsea face off later today - in a rematch of the 2008 final which was won by Spurs.