Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was unimpressed by Jermain Defoe's comments about being frustrated with his lack of games this season.
This morning, Redknapp said he wants Defoe to remain at Spurs, but delivered a stinging rebuke to the striker's suggestion that he has not been playing the number of matches that he deserves.
"He hasn't played well enough to play regularly, that's the top and bottom of it. There is no other reason," Redknapp said.
"No-one has more faith in him than I do. He is a fantastic player but his form this year has not been anywhere near it has been in the past.
"He has to let the football do the talking really on the pitch. If he does it on the pitch then I will pick him."
Redknapp also took umbrage with Defoe's claims that playing in the Europa League would be a "distraction" if Spurs finish above Liverpool to qualify for Europe's second club competition.
"He can have Thursdays off then," Redknapp joked.
"Maybe he is busy on Thursdays so we will have to organise ourselves around that one."
