Redknapp backs James England claims

Harry Redknapp has claimed Fabio Capello could do worse than turn to David James to solve his goalkeeping woes.

Capello officially takes charge as England manager on Monday and with his first game in charge against Switzerland less than a month away, Redknapp believes Capello should look to the 37-year-old James to fill the goalkeeper's role.

"I have never seen anyone as dedicated," Redknapp said after Pompey's FA Cup win over Ipswich. "He made three saves against Ipswich no-one else would have done. He has got everything. Their fans were singing 'England's number four' - well I would like to see the other three."

Capello eased himself into the job during the weekend as he took in a couple of FA Cup games, however at the first Aston Villa's Scott Carson failed to impress with some handling errors during the defeat to Manchester United.

And with Tottenham's Paul Robinson also blamed for one of Reading's goals in the 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane, the goalkeeping ills that dogged Steve McClaren's time in charge have clearly not gone away.

Denied an opportunity to watch Steven Gerrard at Luton on Sunday because of the Liverpool skipper's calf injury, Capello will spend his first day in a series of meetings at Soho Square.

One of the key discussions will be about a strategy for the 2010 World Cup fixtures meeting in Zagreb on January 14, when Capello will need to thrash out a campaign which provides England with the best chance possible of emerging from a group including Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra and Euro 2008 nemesis Croatia.

On the back of a failure to reach next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland, Capello knows he must guide England to South Africa if his vast salary is to be deemed worthwhile.

Apart from getting to know his new colleagues at FA HQ, the former Juventus, Real Madrid and AC Milan coach will have offered some indication about his preferred summer plans for England. With no major tournament to play, England do have the option of embarking on a short tour to North America, Asia or even Australia.

However, plenty of Euro 2008 contenders have been in touch requesting friendlies, while a revival of the rivalry with Scotland at the end of May appeals to the FA's commercial staff.