HARRY REDKNAPP has revealed how ace in the pack Peter Crouch has silenced his 'long ball' critics - both from the stands and within the Saints' playing squad!

The former Pompey forward wasn't the most popular signing when Paul Sturrock brought him in from Aston Villa last summer for £2m.

That Fratton Park connection meant Crouch was even booed by some fans when he made his home debut as a sub in the pre-season friendly against Chievo.

The 6ft 7in striker didn't start a single Premiership match for Saints under either Sturrock or Steve Wigley.

And Redknapp has revealed how Crouch's presence in the team took time to win over all his Saints colleagues.

It wasn't until December that Crouch was handed his first start in Redknapp's opening game in charge at home to Middlesbrough.

But 14 goals in 23 games under Redknapp have underlined his importance so much that Saints legend Terry Paine has confessed that the club's survival depends on the player being fit.

Crouch passed a late fitness test to face Norwich and duly scored his 15th goal of the season.

Redknapp said: "What a handful Crouchy is.

"When I first came here I looked at what we had and one or two of the foreign players were moaning 'oh, we're hitting long balls are we?'

"No - we're playing to what we've got.

"Our strength is hitting balls into Crouchy on the diagonal and him knocking them down in the box for Phillips or Camara to get on the end of.

"What's wrong with that?

"That's the hand I've been dealt with and Crouchy's fantastic for us."

Since coming on as a half-time sub at Manchester City on New Year's Day, Crouch has played every minute of every game with the exception of two minutes at Northampton in the FA Cup in January and the game he missed at Fratton Park after injuring his hamstring in the warm-up.

Crouch is the front-runner for the Saints player of the season award despite hardly getting a game in the first half of the campaign.

He only made six league sub appearances under Wigley as Kevin Phillips and James Beattie were the regular pairing.

It was Crouch's misfortune to be injured at exactly the same time Beattie was.

Crouch, who represented England at Under-21 level, is the sixth highest-scoring Englishman in the Premiership this season and Redknapp is again happy to tout his national team chances.

The manager remarked: "I've said it before but I would have Crouchy in the England squad.

"He'd be a great sub. There are going to be games in World Cups or whatever where you can't break teams down, even with terrific strikers like Rooney or Owen because you can't play through them.

"And suddenly, with a quarter of an hour to go, you bring on the 6ft 7in guy and hit balls at him. He gives you such a different option.

"He's got great touch and skill as well.

"I've followed his career since he was 15. He's always had great skill and been a great player."

Of the five higher-scoring Englishmen in the top flight, Jermain Defoe (22 goals), Andy Johnson (21), Frank Lampard (18) and Wayne Rooney (17) have all won England caps in recent internationals.

And the other player, Alan Shearer (19, though only seven have come in the Premiership), is a former England captain.

Take away penalties, and Crouch has scored three more goals (14 to 11) than Johnson, who he faces in the Selhurst Park relegation dogfight this weekend.