Curbishley is fan of Crouch

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has revealed himself to be a big fan of England’s Peter Crouch.

The 6ft 7ins tall striker has divided opinion across the nation following his summer switch to Liverpool, who are due at The Valley tomorrow for a re-arranged Premiership fixture.

Some insist the £7million signing is over-rated and point to the fact he had played more than 20 games for club and country before netting his first goal of the season.

He currently has just four goals to his name – five including a contentious effort against Newcastle – but Curbishley made it clear he understood exactly what Rafa Benitez, Sven-Goran Eriksson and his other admirers see in him.

So much so in fact that it is one of the Addicks boss’ regrets that he had never been able to sign him before he became a big-earner.

He said: “I have always liked Peter Crouch and timing is a great thing in football. Sometimes when players are available you are not in a position to do anything and when you are you can’t do it.

“Since he started off at Tottenham we have followed him closely and when you get closer you see there is a lot more to him.

“Graham Taylor took him for big money to Aston Villa and it didn’t quite work. Graham took a bit of stick for that but he has since been proved right.

“Whether he is good enough for England that is for someone else to say but I think his main aim is to stay in that Liverpool side.”

Liverpool, who will move level on points with second-placed Manchester United if they win at The Valley and then take maximum points from their other game in hand, have not enjoyed a Crouch goal since the end of December.

But Curbishley insisted: “It has been a while but he is a team player. He showed that last season trying to keep Southampton up.”

Both sides will kick-off on the back of defeats in London on Sunday, with Charlton having been beaten 3-1 at Spurs before Chelsea had strengthened their grip on the Premiership title with a 2-0 dismissal of the Anfield pretenders.

Goalkeeper Jose Reina is suspended having been controversially sent off at Stamford Bridge, which had opened the door at long last for previous season’s Champions League hero Jerzy Dudek.

Dudek’s penalty shoot-out heroics in last year’s final capped one of the most memorable comebacks in history and Curbishley was convinced Benitez’s side would launch a major assault on the Chelsea fortress.

He said: “I was astonished by their feats last year. It was an amazing achievement for Rafa Benitez to do that in his first year, and obviously surpassed everything that was expected.

“Liverpool over the last four or five years have won everything apart from the Premiership, which has eluded them for some time now. So I would imagine that if not this this season but next they will be making every effort for the Premiership.

“The battle for second place this season will go all the way. Chelsea are in a position where they can only lose it but that second spot, with automatic Champions League qualification, is what everybody is after. Liverpool and Manchester United will be going head to head.”

The White Hart Lane defeat ended a five-match unbeaten run by the Addicks, who will kick off in 13th place. A point will take them above Aston Villa while victory would also see Everton over-hauled on goal difference.

Midfielder Matt Holland’s chances of returning following a thigh injury are rated as 50-50 while winger Dennis Rommedahl remains sidelined by a rib problem.