'Adel Taarabt is about three stone overweight. I can't pick him' - Harry Redknapp

The Moroccan international was not named in the squad to face Liverpool

Adel Taraabt in action for QPR against West Ham earlier this month (GETTY IMAGES)

Harry Redknapp has launched a scathing attack on Adel Taarabt, the Morocco international who was missing from the Queens Park Rangers squad to face Liverpool in the 3-2 defeat at Loftus Road, claiming the player was overweight.

Asked an innocuous question about whether Taarabt was injured, Redknapp, whose team conceded twice in the last seven minutes, having twice equalised, did not hide his anger about the player’s fitness.

Redknapp said: “He [Taarabt] is not injured. He’s not fit. He’s not fit to play football unfortunately. He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did. I can’t pick him. I pick people who want to try, who deserve to be at a good football club like QPR, who come in every day and want to work, train and show a good attitude. When he starts doing that, if he ever can do it, maybe he’ll get a game.”

Returning to the subject later, he seemed to suggest that there others in his QPR squad who had angered him. He said: “We've got two or three of them but 99 per cent of the other lads … I've got a fantastic group of lads here, absolutely superb. I've just been asked a question [about Taarabt]. I can't keep protecting people, who don’t want to run about and train, and are about three stone overweight. What am I supposed to keep saying? Keep getting your 60, 70 grand a week and don't train? What's the game coming to?”