Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp believes Peter Crouch is as essential to England's success in South Africa next summer as he is to Tottenham's flying start to the Premier League season. Redknapp said: "I love Crouchy - that's why I keep buying him. He was different class when he came on.

"That's why England need Crouch, because he's Plan B for England as well in my opinion. He's a player you have to take to a World Cup because he gives you something completely different.

"When the game needs changing he can do that even if he's coming off the bench. If you can't play through teams you can go long to him and he gives you a different dimension."

"He can become Plan A for me, easy. With that performance (against Birmingham) it is going to be hard to leave him out of the team, especially when you play against Manchester United and Chelsea.

"Against them you need something different in your team to cause them problems."