Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp thinks England are suffering from a severe striker shortage ahead of this summer’s European Championship.

But the 65-year-old, overwhelming favourite to take over the manager’s role with the national team, thinks Jermain Defoe may be the answer, despite overlooking the frontman for most of the season at White Hart Lane.

Defoe is Spurs’ top scorer this season with 13 goals in 29 appearances but he’s struggled to earn a regular starting berth thanks to the arrivals of Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor.

The former Portsmouth striker hardly received a vote of confidence last week when England’s interim head coach Stuart Pearce ignored the 29-year-old, deciding instead to call up the uncapped Fraizer Campbell after a spate of injuries to his front line.

England will be without the suspended Wayne Rooney for the first two games of Euro 2012 and are also likely to be missing Darren Bent due to injury, something which could work to Defoe’s advantage, according to Redknapp.

“I am sure he (Defoe) could (make the squad),” Redknapp said.

“There is a shortage of strikers if you look at England now, it’s certainly a problem position.

“Darren Bent is out for the season, so suddenly you look at that and you think he (Defoe) has every chance of going.”