Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp believes Glen Johnson is the best right-back in the country.

New England coach Fabio Capello has yet to come to that conclusion, having picked him in an initial squad of 30 ahead of last month's friendly with Switzerland but then deciding not to include him in the final party.

But Redknapp is convinced the former West Ham and Chelsea man, 23, will continue to put in performances to catch the Italian's eye, starting with Wednesday's visit of Birmingham.

He said: "He is the best right-back in the country. He is an outstanding player. He lacks concentration at times, but when he is switched on he has got everything.

"He is quick, powerful, has great ability for a right-back to run and dribble with the ball, he can cross it and is good in the air.

"There have been times when he has switched off and been a bit casual and has paid the price for it but he is learning."

Johnson was one of a number of signings last summer having spent the previous term on loan from Chelsea, who received £4million for a player they had spent £6million on while still a teenager.

Redknapp added: "I didn't have any problem persuading him to come here on loan and in the summer he was up for coming back. It has been a great move for him.

"We make him feel important here and he is important for us. At Chelsea, if he made a mistake he was out of the team and it is very difficult to play football when you are under that type of pressure all the time.

"Here he knows that it will take a nightmare run of games for him not to play. I would be surprised if he was not in the next England squad."

Another man who left London for first-team football on the south coast is Jermain Defoe, who is also trying to catch Capello's eye.

The 24-year-old has netted three goals in four games since leaving Spurs in January in a £7.5million move but missed his former club's Carling Cup final triumph over Chelsea and is cup-tied for Pompey's FA Cup run, which saw them win at Manchester United on Saturday to become favourites to lift the trophy.

Redknapp is delighted the striker, who will start against Birmingham, has not been moping about after missing three potential chances to play at Wembley.

He said: "The first text I got on Saturday after the game was from Jermain. He was so pleased and was really buzzing. He told me to tell the boys how fantastic it was.

"He is a good lad and is looking at the long term. He has come here to play and has started well with a few goals, and I'm sure he will be looking to bag a few more by the end of the season."

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