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Crouch thankful for Portsmouth switch

08/10/2008

Striker Peter Crouch has admitted his move from Liverpool to Portsmouth helped him revive his flagging England career.

Crouch had failed to force his way into either of Fabio Capello's recent squads, for the friendly against Czech Republic or the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia last month.

This led to some pundits suggesting the tall striker could be frozen out of the international scene because Capello did not regard him as the right kind of player for his system.

However, an excellent run of form for his new club Portsmouth this season, which has seen Crouch score five goals in all competitions already, has allowed him to break into the squad for the fixtures against Kazakhstan and Belarus this week.

"I always said when I was at Liverpool I wasn't playing as many games as I needed to be playing," he said.

"I always felt confident that when I was playing regularly I'd score goals and do well enough to be in the England set-up.

"Now I am doing that and it's proving me right at the moment but I have just got to keep that going."

Crouch continued: "I am not the type of person who would sit there and sulk or throw my arms in the air. I would rather get down and do the business for my club.

"The manager has proved in the past, he has left players out at times, but if they've played well, worked hard and done well at club level they will be straight back in."

The former Reds forward also paid tribute to Pompey strike partners Jermain Defoe, who has joined Crouch in the 23-man squad for the next round of qualifiers.

"We have been lucky enough to set each other up and we play well together as a partnership," Crouch added.

"It certainly helps that we play together."