Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists Jermain Defoe is in his first-team plans: He has not played well enough but no one has more faith in him than I…

BPL, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur, Jermain Defoe

Related Links

Teams

Players

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has insisted Jermain Defoe is still in his first-team plans, despite a troublesome season for the 28-year-old.

With just four goals in 21 appearances in the Premier League this year, Defoe’s future at White Hart Lane has been in doubt in recent weeks, with the player himself questioning why he has been in and out of the side.

Redknapp claims that his lack of first-team action has been because he has failed to reach the top of his game when given the chance to prove himself, but he still has faith in the forward.

Asked if Defoe is in his plans, Redknapp told reporters: “Yes, of course he is. He hasn’t played enough this year because he hasn’t played well enough to play regular – that’s about the top and bottom of it. There’s no other reason.

“No one’s got more faith in him than I’ve shown in him. I took him to West Ham as a kid, signed him at Portsmouth, and brought him back here to Tottenham. He’s a fantastic player in my opinion but his form this year has not been anywhere near where it has been in the past – that’s why he’s not played regular.

“We want him at his best, and when he’s at his best he’s a fantastic goalscorer.”

This season has been in stark contrast to the previous campaign for Defoe, with the striker scoring 18 goals in 34 league appearances for Spurs and a further six in nine cup games last season.

Defoe himself claims that his performances on the training field have shown that he has deserved a place as a regular starter, but this view is not shared by his manager.

“It’s alright training well but it’s what you do when you get on the pitch isn’t it.” Redknapp said.

“His performances on the pitch this year haven’t been as good as they have been in the past, so I’ve not been able to pick him.

“But I don’t have a problem with him, he’s a great lad – trains well – but apart from Wolves away where he took two great goals he’s very rarely shown the type of form that we know he’s capable of.

“But he’ll come back, and year, again another year, he’s 18-20 goal a year man really, not four goals a year – that’s been the problem for him this year. But I’ve got every faith in him.”