Taarabt made me crack: Redknapp

QPR manager Harry Redknapp, pictured, has been involved in a war of words with Adel Taarabt

Harry Redknapp has likened Adel Taarabt to a misbehaving child and admitted he felt like sending the Morocco playmaker to his bedroom - but insisted he still believes in him.

Although Redknapp said he held no grudges, the QPR boss could not resist revisting last week's public spat over Taarabt's weight and offering an explanation for the row.

"It was something that happened before the game and during the week," said Redknapp, who lost patience following last week's last-gasp loss to Liverpool.

"When I get the hump I do tend to say what I feel. He has tested me. He's tested everybody. (But) I'm the one that's stuck with him.

"When you're on someone's side so much and you get let down, at some stage you tend to crack over it.

"Like with your kid misbehaving, you say, 'Don't do that, don't do that'. In the end you get the hump with them enough and you send them to bed, or whatever. That's how I felt last Sunday.

"The only person that can help Adel is himself. I want him to do that. I still believe in him.

"I love watching him do things on the football pitch. I love it when he does something special.

"I just want him to come and train hard and get back in the team. We need him."

Redknapp wants to move on from the feud with Taarabt, who spent last season on loan at Fulham and AC Milan, but admitted he was hurt by the suggestion he was rarely present at training.

"I'm out on that training ground every single day," Redknapp added.

"When people say I'm not out there all morning, that is a blatant lie.

"I think it might've been someone else trying to be mischievous and telling him what to say.

"Whatever. It's done and dusted. I just want to be positive now."

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes intervened in the public disagreement, but Redknapp does not believe Taarabt has been disciplined by QPR for his part in the row.

"I don't hold grudges," Redknapp said.

"He got pushed into writing a load of stuff that wasn't true. I don't think he's been fined and I wouldn't want to fine him.

"I've always been a manager where people go, 'You do love a problem player'.

"The big difference is the ones I've had before keep producing on the pitch.

"Unfortunately at the moment Adel needs to produce. He's got great talent.

"He could be an incredible, incredible footballer for this football club."

Redknapp, who recalled how he rescued Taarabt from Tottenham's reserves when he was Spurs boss six years ago, ruled the midfielder out of Monday's match with Aston Villa.

"He's been ill all week," Redknapp added.

"He's had a sore throat, so he's not been available to train. He's going to train this morning (Saturday)."

Redknapp will thrust Taarabt into his QPR side as soon as he proves his fitness.

"I've had ups and downs with him before, but I've had more ups than downs with him," Redknapp added.

"I've brought coaches in here that think I'm off my head to keep sticking with him and trying to get him onside. They'd have bombed him out ages ago, but I haven't.

"I said to (first-team coach) Glenn Hoddle when he came in, 'Have a look at his ability'. And Glenn went, 'Corr, he can play'.

"About three days later, Glenn's going to me, 'Why doesn't he train?' And that's the problem.

"He's got to get himself in good shape, get fit and if he does that his talent is fantastic.

"If he's ready to play, I'll be the first one to pick him.

"We need him fit and we need him playing. He can change a game.

"He needs to do that for his own good and the good of QPR."

Rob Green is available following illness which kept him out of the Liverpool match and could displace Alex McCarthy in goal.

Defender Nedum Onuoha (hamstring) and midfielder Sandro (groin) are doubts.

Midfielders Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch (both hamstring) remain out alongside long-term absentee Alejandro Faurlin (knee).

Defender Rio Ferdinand was an unused substitute against Liverpool and has stated his intention to retire at the end of this season.

The former England captain and Manchester United centre back has had a challenging time at QPR, but Redknapp cannot fault his efforts.

"It's been very difficult, (but) Rio's a fantastic professional," Redknapp said.

"He's different class. I'm delighted to have him at the club."

Redknapp has told the 25-year-old Taarabt to look to the example of the world's leading players - Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale - who combine their talent with hard work.

"He's not a Messi," Redknapp added.

"If you want to be a Messi, a Ronaldo, a Suarez or Bale, they all have one thing in common - they work their socks off with and without the ball.

"They're incredible footballers. There's no-one to compare with them."