CHERRIES player-coach Peter Grant believes former Dean Court loan star Jermain Defoe will win his first full England cap sooner rather than later.

The 19-year-old, who spent seven months with the Division Two side last season, has earnt rave reviews in the under-21 squad since netting a debut goal against Mexico in May.

He is once again expected to lead the front-line when the nation's youngsters play the return leg of their European Championship qualifier with Holland at Pride Park tonight (Tuesday).

And Grant believes it won't be too long until the West Ham teenager, who bagged 19 goals in Division Two last season, gets a call from first team boss Sven Goran Eriksson.

One-time Scottish international Grant said: "I would say the only reason Jermain hasn't broken into the first team already is because he isn't a regular at West Ham.

"I think his knack for goals is quite incredible. He's the type of striker who scares defenders because you know that if you let him get free in the final third he's deadly.

"I watched him for West Ham against Reading a few weeks ago. They only had five shots and he had all of them - that's the kind of striker he is."

Defoe made an instant hit with the Cherries' faithful when then Hammers boss Harry Redknapp sent him on loan to Dorset.

He hit the national headlines when he scored in 10 consecutive games to equal former Southampton striker Ron Davies's post-war record.

But, despite his obvious predatory talent, the Beckton-born youngster's Upton Park appearances have been limited.

Indeed he is yet to be given a first team start under new Hammers boss Glenn Roeder, but he did net his first senior goal as a substitute against Ipswich last month.

Grant said: "I don't know why Glenn is not playing him because I do not work with him day in day out like he does.

"But if I was his manager then he would be in my team every week simply because he is so dangerous in front of goal."

Despite the obvious similarities, Cherries midfielder Grant refuses to draw comparisons between the diminutive Defoe and Liverpool's pint-sized striker Michael Owen.

He said: "I won't compare Jermain to anyone because he is a talent all of his own. He is like nothing I have ever seen."