FA PREMIER LEAGUE:  IN TIMES of crisis, it is often said that strikers "just need one to go in off their backside" to get them firing again. A freakish goal, according to the adage, can work wonders for the confidence. Darren Bent had been road-testing the theory this season without success. He knew nothing about the goal that ricocheted in off him in Tottenham's 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa in the middle of September yet it did nothing to lift him or the team. The spark for Bent has come from a more familiar source. There is something about Harry Redknapp and the rejuvenation of strikers, and Bent is merely the latest beneficiary.

Redknapp has got the best from a host of them, most notably Paolo Di Canio at West Ham United, Yakubu Ayegbeni during his first spell at Portsmouth and Jermain Defoe at both of those clubs. Bent has now hit form to such an extent - he has scored seven goals in six matches since Redknapp succeeded Juande Ramos three weeks ago - that both Redknapp and the club captain, Ledley King, have urged Fabio Capello to give him an England recall. "I think there is every chance that Darren will get an England call-up," said Redknapp, as Capello prepared to name his squad for Wednesday's friendly with Germany. "His confidence is sky high."

Confidence is the central tenet of Redknapp's man-management. Bent is one of a host of Tottenham players to have marvelled at how he has breezed in and, almost at a stroke, restored belief. "I was talking with Bobby Moore once about Ron Greenwood," said Redknapp, "and he was the best coach I'd ever seen. But Bobby said to me, 'd'you know, in all the years I played there [at West Ham], he never once said "well done" or gave me a pat on the back'.

"Bobby said he thought we all needed that in life and I agree 100 per cent. You get far more out of people by telling them what they can do and how good they are."

It is too glib, however, to suggest that Redknapp's methods are purely rooted in psychology. He got his coaching badges at 21 and was a student of tactics even before he embarked upon his 25 years in management. "It's no good motivating if you don't know the game," he said. "You have to put people in the right positions."

Redknapp has done that at Tottenham most noticeably with Luka Modric, giving the creative midfielder his favoured roaming brief behind the striker, but he has also worked on Bent's positioning.

"I talk to him all the time about what we expect, about his movement when he's up front on his own and how he needs to hold the ball up," said Redknapp.

"We've shown him what we want and where he has to be in relation to the ball. He's taken it all in. Coaching is giving people good information."

Bent is not the only striker who is thriving under Redknapp. Roman Pavlyuchenko has four goals in four games since his arrival and Frazier Campbell marked his first appearance under the new manager with two goals in the League Cup win over Liverpool last Wednesday.

They will be further boosted by another old Redknapp ploy - he has brought in Les Ferdinand, the former Spurs striker, to work with the new lot.

"It's great to have Les in. I just love being around good players and good lads," said Redknapp.

"Les knows a lot about movement in the box, pulling away to leave the space you want to attack. I actually think Les could still get a game, he certainly looks fit.

"I think all the tea ladies around the place are pleased to see him back."