Sunday’s game will mark a special occasion for Jermain Defoe as he once again returns to White Hart Lane.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker has received a hero’s welcome each and every time he has returned to north London to face his former club, and he will undoubtedly be serenaded once more when his name echoes around his former hunting ground.
With 143 goals in 363 appearances, Defoe is Spurs’ fifth highest scorer in the club’s history, and he still holds the record for netting the most goals of any Tottenham player in European competition.
Former team-mate Harry Kane could break that record by the time his spell at the Lane comes to an end, and speaking ahead of Sunday’s game Defoe branded Spurs as a special club with a special striker.
“It’s always special to go back,” said Defoe. “Even when I was at Toronto I used to go back to White Hart Lane and watch games so I’m looking forward to playing there again.
“I spent many years at the club and I still have a lot of friends there from the players to the staff.”
He continued: “I have great memories from my time there – the players I played with and the fans in particular – but one of the reasons why going back is nice is because players like Kane have come through and done well.
“He’s scored so many goals but I’m not suprised to be honest because when I was there I felt, at times, that he should have been given a chance rather than splashing out so much money on other players.
“He was always someone that I looked at and thought could do well and score goals in the Premier League; he always scored goals in the under-21s, looked sharp in training and didn’t look out of place, so I always believed it was a matter of time before he came through.
“I remember when I left the club he came up to me and said that he wanted to have the number 18 shirt, and I did because if there was anyone I was going to give it to it was him because he’s a natural goalscorer.”
