• Euro 2012 qualifiers

Defoe fired up by Carroll challenge

ESPN staff
March 23, 2011
Jermain Defoe is determined to make his mark for England © Getty Images
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Jermain Defoe has insisted the emergence of Andy Carroll as an England international has acted as a spur for him to make his mark.

With Wayne Rooney pretty much a fixture in Fabio Capello's plans, the other strikers in the squad are effectively battling for one spot. Carroll earned a £35m move to Liverpool and international recognition on the back of his stellar displays for Newcastle.

The powerful forward offers a different dimension to Capello, something Defoe does not have in his armoury, but the Tottenham man is unfazed by the challenge and sees it as a positive.

"It makes you more hungry," Defoe said of the challenge of Carroll. "Under Fabio Capello, my goalscoring record's been good.

"I've been given the opportunity and I've scored goals - and the manager knows that. I think he knows now what I can do and it's a case of just waiting for my opportunity again.

"If I don't play at the weekend and I'm on the bench, I'll be focused to try to come on and make an impact."

England face Wales in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Saturday and Defoe is wary of the threat posed by his Tottenham team-mate Gareth Bale.

"Gareth Bale's been giving me a lot of banter, so I just hope that we win the game," he said. "I look forward to going back into the club and giving the banter back.

"He's their biggest threat, to be honest. When he gets the ball, he's direct and he can beat players. His pace is phenomenal, his power. Even from set-pieces as well, he's got a great left foot. He's fresh because he's just come back from injury."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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