Source: Telegraph
Tottenham's Harry Redknapp rewarded for his faith in Jermain Defoe
Invariably, Jermain Defoe is in the thick of it, cracking jokes and volleys, startling apprentice keepers with the power of his shooting. Exuberance reigns.
A natural finisher, Defoe's knack of finding the target has been further honed through hard work. Having the popular Ferdinand around adds to the enjoyment of the session and the expertise. Ferdinand understands what it is like to fight for an England place, knows how forwards like Defoe are creatures of confidence.
The spring in Defoe's step is down to Ferdinand and significant others at Spurs. Redknapp, who invariably coaxes the best out of players, brought Defoe back from Portsmouth in January 2009, giving him a platform to perform on. The striker duly responded with three goals in his first five outings.
Redknapp has been spectacularly rewarded for his faith in Defoe with last week's hat-trick at Hull City. Seven days earlier, Fabio Capello gave him a chance for England against Holland in Amsterdam and Defoe responded with two well-taken goals.
Arguably the unsung hero in Defoe's electrifying start to the season has been Spurs' rehabilitation and conditioning coach, Nathan Gardiner. Suffering a foot injury shortly after returning to the Lane, Defoe was put through a gruelling three-month recovery programme, involving weights and sprints, everything to build up his foot strength and his stamina.
Spurs' medical staff insisted Defoe should play again only when 100 per cent fit. Redknapp, always mindful of players' welfare, agreed. Defoe was kept back until he was ready, sweating on the treadmill until mid-April, finally being allowed some action as the season closed.
Defoe effectively underwent a pre-season conditioning period before the season ended. So when Spurs returned for training in July, Defoe was already sleek and up to speed. Shining on tour to Beijing, Defoe has hit the ground running.
Hitherto one to shoot early, the England international has enhanced his game by becoming more two-footed and also taking the ball on a few strides before letting fly, a trait seen against Holland. His productivity levels have increased since learning to time his runs better, so avoiding offside. There was a period in Defoe's career when he set more flags waving than Nelson's messenger boy at Trafalgar.
Only 26, fitter than ever, and relishing being first-choice at Spurs, Defoe times his run into the limelight well. Although anyone with any understanding of Michael Owen's character will know the Manchester United man will never give up the chase, Defoe has undoubtedly edged ahead in the race for the one spinning-top striker place in Capello's World Cup 23.
If the Wayne Rooney-Emile Heskey axis falters, as in Holland, Defoe can come off the bench to prolific effect. All members of Capello's squad raved about Defoe's performances in practice and here was some match-day substance to the training-ground style.
Defoe has a point to prove. He was badly treated by Sven-Goran Eriksson, England's then coach, on the eve of the last World Cup. In decent form, Defoe was ignored as Eriksson foolishly took only four strikers to Germany: an unfit Rooney, a recuperating Michael Owen, untried Theo Walcott and the average Peter Crouch. The inevitable car-crash materialised as forwards went down lame or were sent off. How England could have done with Defoe's goal threat.
If goals pay the rent, Defoe makes the perfect housemate. Goals adorn his CV from his early days on Wanstead Flats, east London, with Senrab, the club of John Terry, Sol Campbell and Ledley King. Having controversially jumped from Charlton Athletic's youth set-up to West Ham's, Defoe was soon finding the mark, his development accelerated when Redknapp lent him to Bournemouth (19 goals in 31 appearances).
Back at Upton Park, he scored 41 times in 105 games before his rather tackily-handled departure to Spurs. The memory of how Defoe callously handed in a transfer request as West Ham slid out of the Premier League is not forgotten and may fuel a few chants on his return to Upton Park today. During his first spell at the Lane, Defoe scored 46 times in 177 games before that strange season at Pompey (nine in 24) and then an emotional return home. With Redknapp, Ferdinand and Gardiner guiding him, Defoe could make this season his greatest.
