Former Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch has hailed Harry Redknapp as the best manager in Pompey history.

Tension is expected to be high ahead of Tottenham visit of Portsmouth on Saturday with Redknapp, Crouch and Niko Kranjcar facing their old clubs.

Crouch feels that Redknapp, who enjoys a sour relationship with the Portsmouth fans, deserves a good reception from Portsmouth fans as he prepares for his return to Fratton Park.

There have been fears over the reception Redknapp might receive from the Pompey fans with the Spurs boss ruling out the prospect of bringing his own security staff to protect him.

Crouch, who is also making his first return to Portsmouth since his summer switch to White Hart Lane, is expecting a hostile atmosphere, but he feels Redknapp deserves respect from Pompey fans for the job he did at the club.

"It will be a tasty game and a hot atmosphere," Crouch said. "There are quite a few of us going back - it's like Portsmouth old boys

"Harry did fantastically well for Portsmouth, he was probably the best manager in their history. He won the FA Cup and took the club into Europe.

"It's understandable the fans are angry he left them and joined another club, but that's football."