Source: London_Paper
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe hails impact of Redknapp and Ferdinand
JERMAIN DEFOE has thanked Les Ferdinand and Harry Redknapp for sending his career into overdrive and helping him prove he really is international class.
Defoe is tipped to start for England in a friendly against Slovenia on Saturday after scoring twice as a substitute in last month’s friendly in Holland.
He is also odds-on to be included in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad for South Africa 2010 if England can beat Croatia next week – unlike 2006 when Sven-Goran Eriksson left him out at the last minute.
Now Defoe has revealed how working with Spurs legend Ferdinand and Tottenham boss Redknapp have helped him improve his game.
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He said: “I speak to Les a lot. Even off-season, on the phone. He’s a great man, he’s got great experience and he had a great career, he scored a lot of goals. So it’s good for me and the other forwards at the club to listen to Les.
“He just says to me, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s important to keep going and going. Don’t get complacent. You’ve got a good start to the season. Just relax now. Keep working hard in training and keep getting into positions where you’re going to score goals. The goals will come.'"
Defoe’s career, which looked in danger of collapse when he couldn’t get into the Tottenham team and was sold to Portsmouth, has been revitalized over the past two years.
And the common link is Redknapp, who was manager at Fratton Park as Defoe rediscovered his goalscoring touch – and who then moved to Spurs and took Defoe with him.
The striker, 26, said: “Harry has been great for me. He just says to me, ‘Go out there and play and just enjoy it.' He always gives me confidence and says, ‘I know you’re going to score goals. You’re one of the best strikers in the League so just go out there and relax and just enjoy football.’
“He says that to all the players. He does seem to get the best out of his players. It’s been great for me at Tottenham so far and I want to do well with England, too.”