Source: Daily_Mail
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp tells Jermain Defoe he can be one of the greats
[LNB]History man: Redknapp wants Defoe to be another Greaves or Lineker[LNB]Tottenham's outlook has changed somewhat during Jermain Defoe's 10-week absence. When he tore ankle ligaments on England duty in early September, Spurs were preparing to take the first tentative steps of their first Champions League campaign. [LNB]When he returned to action at Arsenal on Saturday, he contributed to a historic comeback win which tempted Harry Redknapp to talk about winning the Barclays Premier League title.[LNB] In between, they walloped Inter Milan and victory on Wednesdaynight against Werder Bremen at White Hart Lane will clinch a place inthe last 16 of the Champions League.[LNB] This is new territory for Tottenham, and the manager is relieved tohave Defoe pressing to start the game at a time when Rafael van derVaart is struggling with an ankle injury. [LNB]'Jermain is important for us,' said Redknapp. 'He is, without doubt,our biggest goalscorer. If he can come in now and go on a run for us,that would be fantastic.[LNB] 'I'd love him to get eight, nine, 10 goals in the next 15 games. He could push us right into the title race if he could go on a little run and bang in the goals.' [LNB]Defoe started the season nursing a groin problem but he was in sublime touch for England when he injured his ankle, just days after his Wembley hat-trick against Bulgaria. For his club, however, his own prolific standards have slipped recently and he has only four Premier League goals in 2010. [LNB] Fightback: Kaboul stunned Arsenal with a match-winning header in Saturday's derby [LNB]'Jermain can actually score more goals than he does,' said Redknapp. 'He should get 20 goals plus every year. Last season he had an unbelievable spell and then he dried up. [LNB]'I told him, "It's wrong if you don't get 20 goals a year". I tipped him to be leading scorer in the Premier League and I told him it was about time he did it. It's up to Jermain to try to emulate the greats.' [LNB]When Redknapp talks of the greats in front of goal, he is thinking specifically of Jimmy Greaves. 'Greavsie was the best, a genius,' said the Spurs boss, but he believes Defoe also boasts the single-minded instinct of a true poacher. 'They get in front of goal and they're cool. They don't panic and they pick their spot. Greavsie was like that. And Gary Lineker. [LNB]'Even when the team's getting beat, you still get the feeling they will score so they can say, "Well, I've scored". That's the way they are.' [LNB]Redknapp and Defoe have worked together at West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham and it is probably the closeness of their working relationship which persuades the manager to expect such high standards from the 28-year-old. [LNB]'His goalscoring and his movement is fantastic but I still think there's part of his game he can improve. 'To be the complete front man, his hold-up play can be better. When the ball comes in to him, he can be stronger and protect it better.' [LNB]The challenge is set for Defoe as he returns to a team inspired by their success against European champions Inter, not only the win at White Hart Lane three weeks ago, but also the 4-3 defeat in the San Siro. [LNB]Spurs were four down and reduced to 10 men when they launched an unlikely fightback which left an impression on the players. [LNB]'It was a bit of a catalyst,' said midfielder Jermaine Jenas. 'We didn't perform in the first half, went down to 10 men and people wrote us off completely but what we did in the second half was give ourselves a mental victory. [LNB]'We had Inter on the ropes with 10 men at the San Siro. Not many teams will go and do that. We looked at ourselves and said we can do anything if we're all at it.' [LNB]Redknapp will wait on the results of a scan on Van der Vaart's foot and Gareth Bale has a sore shoulder but Tottenham's problems are minor compared to those of Werder Bremen. [LNB]The Bundesliga side arrived in London with a catalogue of injuries which forced them to call up seven young reserves. [LNB]'We will cope and we will not complain,' said manager Thomas Schaaf, who joked about taking his team Christmas shopping in London. [LNB]Regardless of the German humour, Spurs will never have a better chance. Redknapp admitted: 'We don't want to go into the last game at Twente needing a win. This is a massive game, a great opportunity for us to take another step forward.' [LNB]VIDEO: Redknapp on Werder test...[LNB] Van der Vaart stuns Spurs by revealing he really wants Hamburg returnSpanish ace Marquez flattered by interest from Tottenham and WiganGraham risks wrath of Arsenal fans by declaring Spurs as title contendersTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
