Ledley King insists he can forge a successful England partnership with John Terry despite their lack of action together during matches and on the training pitch.

King's chances of starting the World Cup have increased with skipper Rio Ferdinand forced to withdraw with a knee ligament injury.

The Tottenham defender's long-standing knee problem is well documented and means he is confined to gym work for the majority of the time.

He has also not started a match for his country in tandem with Terry since the European Championship qualifier with Estonia in June 2007.

But King believes he can overcome such obstacles, which pale into insignificance compared with the fitness battles he has had to endure for the past three years.

He said: "We are not going to have much time to do it - regardless of me training once or twice a week."

He continued: "But I have known John for a long time, he is a great communicator on the pitch, and that is what you need.

"He is an experienced player, as am I, and I wouldn't see a problem if we're needed to play together.

"If the communication is good within the back four, you have a good chance.

"I have also been playing long enough now to know my position. I try to keep an eye on the training and especially set-pieces which are important.

"If I do that, I'll know where to be on the pitch."

King said his love of football was a driving force during the low periods with his knee.

And he was always confident of being able to play for England again if he could stay fit and get a run of games under his belt.

He said: "This season has been quite difficult for me. I've had a lot of muscle injuries.

"You start to wonder if you are going to make it or whether your time is running out. But I've never stopped believing and I finally got my reward.

"I wouldn't say I doubted whether I would ever get back in an England shirt.

"I always believed, if I could stay fit for a long period of time, that I always had a chance."