One to Watch – Jermain Defoe

Name: Jermain Defoe

Date of Birth: 7/10/1982

Nationality: England

Former Clubs: West Ham, Bournemouth, Portsmouth

League Appearances (Goals): 385 (144)

International Appearances (Goals): 51 (17)

Stat of the Day: Jermain Defoe has been England`s top scorer for the past four seasons

Player Profile: Questions are being asked as to whether Daniel Levy`s customary tight-fisted and sparing transfer window policy has come back to haunt him this season. Late departures and eleventh-hour arrivals has seen Spurs make a slow start to the new campaign and Levy and Villas-Boas may be breathing a sigh of relief having been unable to offload Jermain Defoe. The 29-year-old has endured a summer of grief and uncertainty surrounding his future, yet has managed to carry a lacklustre Spurs side through their first four league games. Defoe, who seems to have been around for years yet is still only 29, has displayed experience and maturity in his games for Tottenham and England this season; something required greatly by both sides. QPR were intensely linked with Defoe over the summer – should the transfer have gone through the sides may have experienced very different starts to the season.

Defoe has ultimately been employed as a lone striker this season, keeping fellow attacking partner Emmanuel Adebayor firmly out of the team. His experience has allowed him to play the role superbly, something his height and stature may not allude to. The England international still has a keen eye for goal and his 100 + goals for Spurs (you can actually purchase a DVD of all 100 goals for a cut price £15 – classic Spurs) have placed him firmly in Spurs` fans good books. With QPR having to potentially call on defenders from their U16 side following their defensive crisis this weekend, Defoe will be the one to watch as he will certainly want to continue his impressive early season form.

Player Profile:

Jermain Defoe was initially spotted by Charlton as a 14-year-old and was enrolled at the FA National School of Excellence in 1997. At 16 he signed for West Ham and was a member of the under 19 team that won the Premier League Academy title in 2000. The following season he was sent out on loan to Bournemouth where he netted 18 times in 29 league appearances, managing to net in ten consecutive games. He finished as West Ham`s top scorer during the 2001/2002 season but was unable to keep them from relegation the following campaign. He handed in a transfer request and eventually left for Spurs in 2004, having scored 41 goals in 105 league and cup games for The Hammers.

His £6 million transfer fee was soon justified as he settled into life at White Hart Lane, scoring on his debut and netting seven times at the end of the 2004/2005 season. His goalscoring prowess continued as he managed 43 league goals in 139 appearances over four years at Spurs. Defoe joined Portsmouth in January 2008 for £6 million and enjoyed a profitable spell on the South coast before eventually resigning for Spurs in 2009 for £15 million. The striker has since scored 39 league goals in 93 appearances and looks set to continue his impressive goalscoring record.

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