The prevailing wisdom surrounding many of modern football's brightest thinkers is that two men up front is dying. Only one team in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 played with a dual strike force and Spain, when forced to change due to injury to David Villa, reverted to just Fernando Torres up front.

This consensus is almost overwhelming when analysing the English game, which for so long has almost exclusively been dominated by two up front. Last season Manchester United won the Champions League and Premier League without a recognised out-and-out striker, whilst Liverpool and Chelsea can be expected to line up with Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba backed up by men from deep.

Arsenal, who for so long under Arsene Wenger always played two up front, played many of their most important games with just Emmanuel Adebayor up top. And looking down the league, only Blackburn and Spurs could be certain of playing a strike partnership instead of packing the midfield.

But now with Paul Ince installed at Ewood Park and the futures of Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov uncertain, there is no guarantee that next season these two teams will play with a strike partnership.

So, for this reason (and plenty others) Harry Redknapp should be applauded for the signing of Peter Crouch. Pompey fans can look forward to watching the ultimate big man-little man partnership next season as Crouch and Jermain Defoe link up again.

On paper Crouch and Defoe should be a partnership good enough to lift Portsmouth even higher up the table, making a UEFA Cup place a real possibility, and we can also expect a good showing in Europe and in defence of their FA Cup.

Defoe and Crouch have played together many times, including at senior, under-21 and under-18 level for England. In fact, they have arguably been the most consistent strike partnership for England since Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer.

In October 2006, they scored seven goals between them in three games and, whilst the opposition were Greece, Andorra and Macedonia, it is hard to think of other successful partnerships for the Three Lions in recent times.

Both players also have much to prove. Defoe was unlucky last season as his move from Tottenham meant he missed out on a Carling Cup final appearance, and a cameo role against Reading in the FA Cup for Spurs saw him miss out on Pompey’s successful cup run.

Yet Defoe is undoubtedly hungry as his goal tally for Portsmouth has proved. Crouch, despite a poor opening spell at Liverpool, comes away from Anfield with his reputation enhanced. The lanky striker scored some spectacular goals and was praised by the Liverpool fans for his hard work and intelligence when on the ball.

The irony about Crouch is that he actually isn’t that good in the air but is always a threat against a defence more than anything because his height seems to panic even the best defenders in Europe. On his day he is simply unplayable and for a tall man he has a great touch and fine ability on the ball.

Having played together before it should take Crouch and Defoe no time to get going. Backed up by a fine Pompey midfield including Lassana Diarra, Sulley Muntari and Niko Kranjcar there should be no shortage of service for both strikers to thrive on. If their expected success does come then it can only be a good thing for Fabio Capello - as well as advocates of playing two up front.