Redknapp tips Defoe for England recall

Harry Redknapp backed Jermain Defoe to earn an England recall after watching the striker help Tottenham avoid an upset in their FA Cup fifth round replay against Stevenage at White Hart Lane.

Defoe scored either side of half-time to ease the home fans' nerves as Spurs battled back from a goal down to book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition with a 3-1 win. The 29-year-old equalised Joel Byrom's opener with a 20-yard volley and then sealed the win for the Barclays Premier League side in the second half with a well-placed curler.

Redknapp now thinks the former Portsmouth and West Ham striker has a chance of making the Three Lions' Euro 2012 squad despite the fact that he is no longer first choice at the north London club. He said: "It's good to see Jermain back scoring. He is a good finisher and he is a good player. He must have a chance (of an international recall)."

He added: "That is a problem area for England. There is a shortage of top strikers and Jermain is up there with the best of them when he is sharp and on form, and he is looking sharp at the moment.

"I have been delighted with him."

Emmanuel Adebayor ended Stevenage's hopes of an upset when he slotted home from the spot after Gareth Bale was fouled by Boro captain Mark Roberts after 55 minutes and Redknapp's team had a relatively easy path to victory from then on.

Stevenage boss Gary Smith, a former Arsenal scout, thought an upset was on the cards when his team took an early lead.

"I did dream for 20 minutes," he said. "It was a great start, more than we could have imagined.

"There is always that opportunity when you have a group of guys as spirited as we have. It was just a shame that we couldn't go in at half-time in front, but I thought we acquitted ourselves well."

Smith was annoyed to see referee Michael Oliver give the penalty against Roberts, adding: "I have just seen their penalty again. It's not a penalty. That's a shame because the second goal makes such a difference."