 King has appeared 22 times for Tottenham this season
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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp wants club captain Ledley King to play for England despite his injury troubles.
The defender was forced to pull out of Fabio Capello's squad for the recent matches against Slovakia and Ukraine because of persistent knee problems.
But Redknapp insists that with medical supervision, King should add to his 19 caps, the last of which he won in 2007.
"I would love to see him at a World Cup and see him play. He is well worth taking," Redknapp said.
"You might need him for a semi-final if someone is injured or suspended. You could not pick a better man."
King undergoes only low-impact training, such as swimming and cycling, and set-piece work with club colleagues between each game.
The 28-year-old also is also restricted to one match a week to avoid aggravating an injury that has already caused numerous interruptions to his career.
His call-up to the England squad last month appeared to strain relations between Redknapp and Capello.
But Redknapp denies there was any disagreement with the England coach and believes that King's injury concerns would not prevent him travelling to South Africa next summer.
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"I never stopped Ledley going, I never said anything about the manager picking him," he said.
"If you used him right and there is a break between the games, then fine. You have to make sure that you nurse him through."
Redknapp, who has led Tottenham from the foot of the Premier League to 11th since taking charge last October, also gave his endorsement to Capello.
"No-one has more respect for Fabio than me as he is a fantastic manager and he will be a great manager for England - he has already proved that," he said.
"We have a group of players that is the best this country has had in years and has a massive championship win in it.
"With this man in charge, I don't see why we can't do it. So there is no way that I disrespected him or England."
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