Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp baffled by Peter Crouch's England snub
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp cannot understand why Peter Crouch is not part of Fabio Capello's England plans.
The 28-year-old was overlooked by the Italian for the recent draw with Holland despite boasting an impressive record of 16 goals in 34 appearances for the national side.
Crouch, who moved to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth earlier in the summer, marked his first start for the club with a goal and a fine all-round performance as Spurs brushed past Doncaster 5-1 in the second round of the Carling Cup.
But, although Redknapp has opted to pair Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane in all three Premier League games so far this season, he does not feel that should hinder Crouch's chances of regaining his place in Capello's squad ahead of the forthcoming internationals against Slovenia and Croatia.
'He got left out (of the England squad) before I picked the first team,' Redknapp said. 'It wasn't as if he got left out by Tottenham and then by England. But it's up to the manager and Carlton Cole has burst on the scene a bit as well.
'For me, personally, I would always have a Crouchy in my squad because he gives you something completely different to anybody else, even if he's on the bench. He's a player that can come on if games are tight.
'If you can't play through teams you can always go longer and play off him. I just think he's a must for any squad because he's so different to anybody else.'
Redknapp was pleased to see the former Liverpool man grab a goal against the Championship side and, with Roman Pavlyuchenko also scoring, the Spurs boss believes he is reaping the rewards of having four strikers in his squad.
'It was good for Crouchy, he's been unlucky,' Redknapp said. 'I started with Robbie and Jermain and they've been great so Crouchy and Pav have been unlucky not to get a game.
'But we can rotate them and it gives me different options against different teams. It's a long season and you're going to need your front players.'
Another who made an impression at the Keepmoat Stadium was David Bentley.
The winger, who celebrates his 25th birthday today (Thursday), has struggled to hold down a first-team place since his move from Blackburn last summer but scored his first goal since his spectacular volley against Arsenal last October, as well as setting up goals for Crouch and Jamie O'Hara.
'It's been hard for him with Aaron Lennon in such good form so he's been unable to get into the team,' Redknapp said of Bentley. 'His attitude has been fine and he keeps working hard.'
Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll, who played under Redknapp when he was in charge of Bournemouth, was quick to credit his former manager's side for their performance.
'They're quality,' he said. 'The two games that we've watched them they've been awesome and I was waiting for Jermain (Defoe) to come off the bench and rub it in.
'But we wanted to get certain things out of the game and we got them. We're learning and we're not an established Championship side yet but hopefully we'll get there.'
