Doctor Steve Peters can hand England a vital mental edge at the World Cup, according to Harry Redknapp.

Psychologist Peters, who has worked with snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan and was involved at Liverpool as they claimed an impressive second-place finish in the Barclays Premier League, joined Roy Hodgson’s England backroom set-up in March.

QPR boss Redknapp admitted he employed a sports psychologist for the first time only this season – Jonny Wilkinson’s mentor and former Newcastle United and Town coach Steve Black, who was part of Lee Clark’s staff at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Redknapp said former nightclub bouncer Black was pivotal to QPR’s Premier League promotion via the play-offs, and backed Peters to have a similar effect with Egland.

“For the first time this year we brought a guy into QPR and he’s been fantastic,” said Redknapp. “Steve Black came in and did a great job for us, motivating players and spending time with them one-on-one as well.

“He’s worked with Jonny Wilkinson for more than 10 years, he’s got Danny Cipriani’s career back on track, and he’s amazing.

“I think Steve Peters’ presence will be important for England, he has worked with Liverpool this year.

“Steven Gerrard has belief in him, he wants him on board so I think he will definitely have a positive impact.”

Redknapp recruited Black on Joey Barton’s recommendation, admitting he will seek to employ the master motivator again next season. The former Tottenham boss said Black’s words helped QPR edge over the line in their tense 1-0 Championship play-off final victory over Derby.

Steve Black
Steve Black

“He works with Joey Barton to be fair, I was talking to Joey one day, and he was saying about the fantastic work this guy does with him, because Joey’s had a great season,” said Redknapp.

“And so I decided to meet him.

“He came down to Middlesbrough, had a chat with him and we brought him on board.

“He did a great job for us and I’d love to have him back on board next year. I think he’s a great motivator, he inspires confidence and belief in people, you spend time with him, and in meetings there are lots of positive words on the walls.

“He’ll talk to everyone about being together as a group, what we have to do and work for each other.

“He certainly got me motivated listening to him, he makes you feel like you couldn’t get beaten almost. Maybe he was right, because in that play-off final we came back and found a way.

“That was always what he said: ‘find a way, find a way’, and God knows how, but we did.”

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