JAMIE REDKNAPP hailed the performance of goals hero Peter Crouch and believes the Saints hitman will finally get the credit he deserves.

Just a few weeks ago some people laughed when Redknapp said Crouch could play for England.

But after another two goals at Middlesbrough, the midfielder insisted: "Peter has everything.

"People think because he's 6ft 7in he's not good on the floor and that's so unfair to him because he's superb with his feet.

"He can put the ball where he wants to put it, he can score goals with his head and his feet.

"People laughed when I said he could play for England. I'm not saying he's going to start ahead of Rooney or Owen but if use him in the right areas he's such a threat.

"He's got awesome abilities.

"I knew all about Kevin Phillips and Henri Camara before I came here but Crouchy's been a breath of fresh of air.

"Top centre halves like Gareth Southgate and Ledley King can't deal with him.

"He doesn't get the credit he deserves but hopefully now he's going to."

Crouch took his run to ten goals in 13 games at the Riverside in Saints' 3-1 win and Redknapp added: "We all like to be told we're good players.

"If somebody tells you you're good in the air you think that's all you can do.

"Dad and all the players are telling him what a good player he is and we're reaping the benefits as a team. I'm so pleased for him because he's a quality player."

Like Jim Smith, Redknapp believes the win that lifted Saints out of the bottom three could prove to be a defining moment of 2004/05.

"It was a great performance," he said. "We felt it was a good time to play Middlesbrough.

"They played on Thursday and we knew that second half they were going to get tired. Dad said at half-time 'we're fit and we can overpower them' and we did.

"We were too powerful for them in all areas.

"Every partnership was excellent - the two centre halves, the right back and right midfield, down the left side was the same, up front and myself and Nigel. We bossed every area of the field."

He added: "For the first time we had a nice pressure.

"We went into the game knowing that we could get out of the bottom three and that was fantastic.

"We wanted to wake up on Monday morning and see ourselves not in the bottom three.

"We've given ourselves a right lift now and a right chance."