Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has backed Jermain Defoe to provide a solution to England's striker shortage at Euro 2012.
Spurs boss pushes striker's England claims
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has backed Jermain Defoe to provide a solution to England's striker shortage at Euro 2012.
Defoe is Spurs' top scorer this season with 13 goals in 29 appearances, but he has struggled to earn a regular starting berth thanks to the arrivals of Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor at White Hart Lane.
The former Portsmouth striker hardly received a vote of confidence last week when England's interim head coach Stuart Pearce ignored the 29-year-old, deciding instead to call up the uncapped Fraizer Campbell after a spate of injuries to his front line.
England will be without the suspended Wayne Rooney for the first two games of Euro 2012 and are also likely to be missing Darren Bent due to injury, something which could work to Defoe's advantage according to Redknapp, an overwhelming favourite to take over the manager's role with the national team.
"I am sure he (Defoe) could (make the squad)," said the manager.
"There is a shortage of strikers if you look at England now, it's certainly a problem position.
"Darren Bent is out for the season, so suddenly you look at that and you think he (Defoe) has every chance of going."
Recall
Defoe will have a chance to push his claims of an England recall on Wednesday when he takes to the field for Spurs in their FA Cup fifth-round replay against Stevenage at White Hart Lane.
His manager has called on the former West Ham man to grasp the opportunity with both hands.
"Jermain will play," said Redknapp.
"I hope he makes it for the Euros but at the moment, he has to take his opportunity when he has them for Tottenham.
"He has been disappointed not to play but Louis Saha has come in and has done well.
"He (Saha) has scored goals so it has been a difficult one. I have four front men - Saha, Defoe, (Rafael) Van der Vaart and Adebayor so there are always going to be two top players left out but that's life."
