Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has bullishly predicted his star central defender Ledley King is “a certainty to go to the World Cup” with England this summer (2/7 England – Group C World Cup 2010).

Redknapp is confident injury-prone King will cope with the six-day gap between World Cup group games in South Africa and says he deserves his place in the 23-man squad on current form.

England assistant Franco Baldini was at White Hart Lane on Saturday to make a personal check on King and he is expected to be named in the squad for the friendlies against Mexico at Wembley on May 24 and Japan in Austria.

Fabio Capello names his final squad on June 1 and Redknapp says King should go as back-up at the very least (1/2 England 5/2 draw 5/1 USA – World Cup 2010 match bets).

“He’s a certainty to go to the World Cup,” Redknapp said. “Look at how he played at Old Trafford (in the 3-1 defeat by Manchester United), he was our best player.

“I’d be surprised if he (Capello) doesn’t take him.”

He added: “You can bet your life on him going.”