Source: Team_Talk
Harry backs Crouch to keep place
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has hailed Peter Crouch's record for England amid talk he could lose his spot to Andy Carroll and Kevin Davies.[LNB] Crouch has been a fixture in the national team squad for five years but appears to have fallen out of favour somewhat since the World Cup.[LNB]His failure to find the net in the Premier League this season has hardly helped his cause, although he has been prolific in Spurs' maiden Champions League campaign.[LNB]Carroll, on the other hand, has taken the Premier League by storm since Newcastle's top-flight return and has been hotly tipped to land his first England call-up for next week's friendly with France.[LNB]Davies, meanwhile, won his first cap coming on for Crouch during last month's dismal goalless draw against Montenegro and also completely outshone his fellow forward in Bolton's 4-2 victory over Spurs on Saturday - a game watched by Capello.[LNB]Carroll and Davies could earn places in the Italian's upcoming squad at the expense of Crouch but Redknapp is backing his striker.[LNB]"He has scored goals for England; whenever he plays, his record's been good for England," he said.[LNB]"Andy Carroll, he must have a chance the way he's going; you could see him getting in.[LNB]"Crouchy, I'm sure, loves playing for his country.[LNB]"In the Champions League, he's been incredible, the goals he's scored.[LNB]"He's banging in goals every game for us in Europe; it's just in the league he's not been able to get them for us this year, but hopefully that will change.[LNB]"It's not through lack of trying or anything else; it's just the way it goes sometimes.[LNB]"He's made goals for (Rafael) van der Vaart. He's just not been able to score them."[LNB]Crouch has struck up a fine partnership with Van der Vaart but Redknapp has hinted he would be prepared to break it once Jermain Defoe returns from injury.[LNB]There have been doubts about Defoe's ability to play as a lone striker but Redknapp pointed out he had scored a hat-trick for England in just that position in September, days before being laid low.[LNB]"He had a good little spell before he got injured; he hit form for England with (Wayne) Rooney," Redknapp said.[LNB]"They stuck Rooney deep and he played right up top and you'd think he could do that.[LNB]"He should be able to do that with someone like Rafa - a guy that passes and is sliding him in with his runs, you'd think he'd be perfect for that. We'll have a look."[LNB]Redknapp is eager for Defoe to return as quickly as possible and hopes he could be back for the north London derby in just under two weeks.[LNB]"I think he did a bit with the ball yesterday for the first time, so he's coming on," he said.[LNB]"A couple of weeks could see him back.[LNB]"He'd certainly have had half a dozen or seven (goals).[LNB]"If he'd got that many, he can make a difference to an extra five or six points."[LNB]Redknapp also revealed Van der Vaart could yet make a surprise recovery for tomorrow's game against Sunderland.[LNB]"He could come out and train and feel all right tomorrow," Redknapp added.[LNB]"I saw him come in this morning and said, 'How you feeling?' and he said, 'Much better', so you don't know.[LNB]"He said, 'I'll see how I feel'.[LNB]"With a hamstring, normally you don't expect him to have a chance of playing."
