Jermain Defoe has now discovered what scoring five goals against a ramshackle Wigan Athletic defence can do for a reputation. While his Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, was busy hailing him the "best finisher" in the English game, the forward's captain for the day, Jonathan Woodgate, was going a step further.
"I think he's the sharpest striker not only in the Premier League but probably in the world," said the centre-half. "He's that sharp he simply doesn't miss, in training or in matches." The mind boggles over the superlatives that might have been used had Defoe registered a Premier League record sixth goal of the afternoon.
The 27-year-old has had to build bridges in recent weeks. His petulant stamp on Aaron Mokoena during a fractious return to Portsmouth last month resulted in an untimely three-match ban that checked both his own and the team's breathless early-season form. Redknapp had been livid at the misdemeanor, his desperate pleas at half-time for the forward to retain a cool head having gone unheeded. Defoe's mother, Sandra, had been so ashamed she could not bear to watch the evening's highlights show while his grandfather had been moved to give the forward "a bit of stick" for his folly.
The two league fixtures Defoe missed were lost, with Spurs scoreless in each, though now all is virtually forgiven. A 9-1 thrashing of Wigan – a much improved and physically imposing team up to then – does have the air of a freak result but, psychologically, it will surely prove as encouraging for Spurs as it is demoralising for the Latics.
The statistics prove Redknapp and Woodgate right to some degree in that no other striker boasts a better goals-to-minutes ratio in the Premier League this season than Defoe's 75 minutes per goal. Fabio Capello recently decided not to start with him against Brazil because he felt he knew the ins and outs of Defoe's game. That, in itself, has to be encouraging in a World Cup year.
"When I was sent off I knew what I had done straight away and it was out of character," said Defoe, whose last booking had been for Portsmouth against Bolton on 20 December 2008. "It was stupid but, having been out of the team through suspension, it was important to come back like this because I owed something to the team. The World Cup is always at the back of your mind but it's important to focus on your club form to give yourself the best opportunity to get on that plane.
"What happened against Wigan was unbelievable. I definitely remember scoring four goals in a youth team game for West Ham against Aston Villa but I don't think I've scored five even on the PlayStation. I've spoken to all the great strikers over the years – Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright, Clive Allen – and they always told me that, no matter how many you score, always try and get another. I've got that mentality now.
"A few of us will stay behind training with Les and Clive and you learn from them. I watched some of Clive's goals on YouTube the other day. When you think he got 49 in one season, that's unbelievable. But, if you put that work in, you will get rewarded. That's all I do – work hard and push myself to the limit."
The substitutes' board had actually been raised with Spurs 6-1 up and Defoe's tally on four, prompting a look of disgust from the striker towards the bench that gave way to relief when he realised it was Aaron Lennon who was being summoned from the fray rather than himself. "The break recently might actually have done me some good because I felt full of energy," he added. "People are talking about the Golden Boot and I heard what the manager said about me being in with a chance of winning it but I'd prefer just [for the club] to finish fourth, to be honest. That would be fantastic.
"To be in the Champions League, playing against the best defenders in the world, would put more pressure on all of us and we'd love to have that challenge. The results went for us on Saturday, so we had to take advantage. It was funny in the dressing room afterwards because none of the lads could believe what had just happened. We know how good we are. We know we have a good team and a strong squad but to score nine goals in a game? Crazy."
Other Spurs players caught the eye, with Lennon outstanding on his return from injury and the entire midfield functioning superbly, though Defoe drew the focus. "Jermain can do anything he wants to do and Fabio Capello seems to have a lot of faith in him," added Woodgate. "He can make a massive impact at the World Cup, without a doubt, and he's got every chance for the Golden Boot." Aston Villa will pose a sterner test on Saturday, but Defoe's reputation precedes him these days. First the Premier League, then the world; the division's striker of the moment will take some stopping.
