Butcher backs Crouch for World Cup

Former England captain Terry Butcher believes Peter Crouch is every inch an international player.

Liverpool certainly think so, with manager Rafael Benitez having gone public on his desire to sign the Southampton striker, who at 6ft 7ins is one of the tallest players in football.

And Butcher, who saw the 24-year-old take on his Motherwell side in a friendly last night, could understand why.

He said: “I saw him in Chicago and in New York with England and he is a good player. It might take more than £8m (€11.6m) to get him. He is very good with his feet and moves well for a big man. And of course, he is always a big threat in the air.

“I think he is a quality player. He certainly excites you because he gives you something that other teams have not got.

“He is very comfortable on the ball, whch for a big man is a rarity. There have been some big players in the past who haven’t been able to control the ball or be skilful.

“But he certainly is – he is definitely England quality and can play at the highest level. He should be pushing now, even if he is still with Southampton, to get in that World Cup squad at the end of the season.”

Saints boss Harry Redknapp was certainly hoping that was the case and told Liverpool to either meet Saints’ asking price or let the matter drop.

He said: “If they want him they have got to pay the money. They said they wanted to go on tour with him so they need to buy him this week or forget all about him. Then we can all get on with our lives.

“We don’t want to sell him but obviously if the money is right then we would have to look at it. But the offer they have made is not good enough. They offered £6m (€8.7m) for him, West Ham did too, but we decided it wasn’t enough.

“I don’t want to say how much we want for him but they are not there at the moment, that’s for sure. I want to keep him anyway. We have got to try to get back out of this league and I have already lost some good players.

“If we sold him I’m sure I wouldn’t see all of it but although I would be able to bring in two or three players I would rather have Crouchy.”

Saints won 2-1 at Fir Park thanks to goals from Andrew Surman and substitute Brett Ormerod, with Richie Foran netting a late consolation goal for Well.

Crouch played the first 45 minutes before becoming one of 10 players to be withdrawn at half-time.