Tottenham coach Joe Jordan insists Jermain Defoe is a valued player at White Hart Lane.

Defoe has had to cool his heels this season as Rafael van de Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor were preferred up front.

"Jermain Defoe is not starting as many games as he would like, but he's as sharp and strong as I have seen him," he said.

"He's still waiting to get that opportunity week in week out, while there are other players who are in the team who are scoring week in week out. For us as a club that is good.

"Maybe it's not good for that individual player who isn't playing, but that is the way we must have it."