Jermain Defoe has a point to prove at Tottenham over the way he was offloaded to Portsmouth.

Jimmy Hampson, the chief scout who brought the young striker to West Ham from Charlton and who nurtured his talent to turn him into a first-team regular, said: "Jermain's an out-and-out goalscorer and that's why Harry wants him. There just aren't many players like him, someone who can score goals and with his kind of record.

"I signed him from Charlton when he was a youngster at the FA's Centre of Excellence at Lilleshall because I knew there was something special about him. He's scored goals wherever he has been. He comes alive in the penalty area, but he's a hard-working player outside the box as well.

"If he wants to go back to Tottenham I wouldn't be surprised. I imagine he felt he got a raw deal when he was there and has something of a point to prove."