Peter Crouch has backed his Spurs team-mate Ledley King to be one of the best defenders at the World Cup (6/1 England to win the World Cup).
Despite experiencing continual problems with a knee injury King managed to play a vital role in Spurs’ Champions League qualification and has been rewarded with a spot in Fabio Capello’s 30-man provisional squad (England 1/3 to win Group C).
Crouch has known King since they were trainees together at White Hart Lane and has always been convinced of his quality: “I’ve known Ledley since I was 13 in my first spell at Spurs.
“He was fantastic even then. Even then you knew he was going to be world class and he has proven that.
“As long as he can prove his fitness, he will be up there as one of the best centre-halfs at the World Cup.?
King has won 19 caps for England, but has not played for his country since Fabio Capello became manager.
The Italian selected the Tottenham star for his first England squad, only for King to withdraw due to injury. Capello then picked King again for the 2009 games against Slovakia and Ukraine, but he was removed from the squad after being assessed by England’s medical staff.
Crouch though, thinks that King can overcome his injury worries to cement his spot in the final squad: “He has proved his quality this season, hopefully he has proved his fitness.
“He played the last three games of the season, all for the 90 minutes, he came through those and trained this week with England as well.
“Ledley has to be managed a bit different to the rest of the players. He has to do his own thing and train when he feels capable of it.
“Without a doubt, the manager thinks it is worthwhile him coming and, on his day when he is fit, there are not many as good as him.”
King doesn’t train with the rest of the first team squad at Tottenham, as the club seek to manage the swelling on his knee after games.
The 29-year old rarely plays in more than game per week due to the swelling, but managed to play in all three of the games in Spurs’ vital last week of the season.
King has been tipped to play in a defensive midfield role for England at the World Cup, if Gareth Barry is unable to recover from injury, having previously performed in the position for both club and country.
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