Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists that Michael Dawson should be going to the World Cup ahead of West Ham’s Matthew Upson.

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Redknapp has already tipped Ledley King to form part of Fabio Capello’s squad despite his well publicised fitness problems, and team-mate Dawson’s form has seen him mentioned as another contender.

Dawson has yet to earn a senior cap for England, but Redknapp believes his performances should see him included ahead of the more established Upson.

Redknapp told Soccernet in an exclusive interview: “So many people concentrate on whether Ledley King is fit to go to the World Cup and I say that he is. of course he cannot play two or three games in a week, but he can play every six days, and the World Cup games are six days apart.

“England’s two centre halves are John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, but Ledley is up there with the best, there is no doubt about that, and I would take him. he will be fine.

“I would also take Michael Dawson. In fact, I think he must have a great chance of going. Both of them should go, for sure. You’ve got Lescott out, so I would say that Michael would be in pole position.

“At the moment, Upson is a fixture in Fabio Capello’s squad, but I have got to say that Dawson is as good as Upson, if not better. Michael is as good as any centre half around the way he has been playing lately.”

Carlos Tevez recently described Dawson as “the best English defender I have played against”.