The striker last played for his country against Trinidad and Tobago at the end of last season and was overlooked for the first two international squads of this campaign.

But Crouch has recaptured his best form after joining Redknapp at Portsmouth following his switch from Liverpool and he is back in Fabio Capello's plans.

Today he was quick to recognise the role Redknapp has played in him joining Portsmouth team-mate Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey in the battle for the striking positions.

Crouch said: "I personally think I am playing better football now - and that warrants the call. That is why I have got it and, if I continue that, then I will stay in the squad.

"We've got good forwards in England now. There are a few. The manager obviously picks his team and, for me personally, I am just pleased to be back in it.

"When you have the international breaks and you are not selected, you have a two-week gap and at first it is nice to have some days off, especially when playing in Europe as well.

"But come the weekend you think, 'Where is the game?', and you watch the England game on TV and it is not the same.

"You want to be a part of it, especially when the game is on. That is frustrating. That is why I am extremely pleased to be back in."

Crouch admitted: "Harry Redknapp has been a big help to me. I've played for Harry before and I felt he had got the best out of me so that was one of the reasons I joined Portsmouth.

"I believe for the rest of the season he will get the best out of me and a lot in terms of my England recall is down to him.

"Harry certainly builds up the confidence of players. For example, he tells me every day that I can be a world beater - and you start to believe it.

"He is just an honest fellow. If you are rubbish, he will tell you as well. But, if you are playing well, he will tell you that.

"It is nice to know. If you need to pull your finger out, he will certainly let you know but if you are doing the business, he will praise you."

Crouch wondered if he would get a recall so quickly after England demolished Croatia 4-1 in Zagreb last month.

But he always had faith in his ability to force his way back into the picture once he had the chance to play regular club football which was denied him at Liverpool for much of the time.

He said: "When England beat Croatia 4-1, I was thinking, 'They have done fantastically well, do they need me?'.

"But to be honest I always felt if I did well for Portsmouth, I would always be back in.

"I missed out on a few England squads, and that was disappointing, but I didn't want to let my head drop. I'm the type of player who works hard for my club.

"I didn't sit down with Mr Capello or anything like that - but I knew the door was open. When you get left out, if you play well for your club, you get back in and that is what has happened to me.

"I was in the first two squads the manager picked so it was obvious that he rated me otherwise I wouldn't have been in those squads. When I was left out I looked to myself - 'What am I doing wrong?' - and just tried to work hard.

"I always felt, given a run of games, I was confident enough. I could have stayed at Liverpool, maybe played in the odd game here and there, but I wanted to move on.

"I had faith in my ability and if I played every week, I could show I was worthy to be in the England set-up."