• Premier League

Defoe confident Spurs can cope without Bale

ESPN staff
December 2, 2012
Jermain Defoe has been on goalscoring form this season © PA Photos
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Striker Jermain Defoe is confident Tottenham can overcome the absence of Gareth Bale.

Bale, described last week by former team-mate Luka Modric as "the best player in the Premier League", appears set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury in Spurs' 3-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday - a game that saw Defoe score twice.

While the England striker acknowledges that the left winger will be missed by Andre Villas-Boas' side, he remains confident that the likes of Clint Dempsey, Moussa Dembele and Gylfi Sigurdsson can step in and offer something different in the Welshman's stead.

"Obviously losing Gaz is a massive blow for the team," Defoe told Absolute Radio. "Because of the way he plays you can't really replace a player like that, but at the same time I think someone else can come in.

"We're lucky because we've got some great players that can come in, play out of position, adapt and do a job for the team.

"When Gaz went off the pitch Clint Dempsey went over to the left-hand side and did well. I think we will be okay."

Defoe's twin strikes took his tally to nine for the season, just one off the top of the Premier League goalscoring charts. And the 30-year-old admitted he is full of confidence at the minute.

"When you're scoring goals, you're buzzing. You just can't wait for the next game because you've got that belief," Defoe said. "You always feel like you're going to score every game you go in to, because you're scoring goals.

"You know you're going to play, you know you're going to stay on the pitch, so I just stayed focused and took the chances when they came."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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