Harry Redknapp insists Jermain Defoe will not be leaving Tottenham in January and has backed the striker to force his way in to England's Euro 2012 squad.
Defoe has not started Spurs' last five Barclays Premier League games, with Redknapp preferring to partner Emmanuel Adebayor with Rafael van der Vaart, and the England hitman revealed that he is worried about missing out Fabio Capello's Euro 2012 squad.
"I wouldn't sell him. He is a fantastic player," Redknapp said.
"In midweek he scored five goals against Charlton. They were incredible finishes.
"He is a top player. He has just been unlucky. Adebayor came in and has done great up front and Rafa has been in fantastic form.
"I had a chat with Jermain in the week. Rafa is struggling with a hamstring and Jermain has a tight groin this weekend, but he will get his opportunities when he is fit and I am sure he will take them."
Time is running out for Defoe to persuade Capello that he can replace the suspended Wayne Rooney in England's group games next summer, but Redknapp is sure that the man he has managed at three different clubs during his career will be on the plane to Poland and the Ukraine.
"I don't pick the squad, that's up to Fabio Capello, but Jermain is a top-class striker so there is no reason why he shouldn't be in the squad," he said.
"He is up there. Rooney is top-class and after that it's a very difficult one. We have four or five strikers and there isn't much to choose between them."
Source: PA
