Spurs boss Redknapp: Defoe brilliant since he was 14

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says he knew Jermain Defoe would be a star as early as when he was 14 years of age.

Defoe struck five goals in Spurs' amazing 9-1 triumph over Wigan Athletic yesterday and Redknapp reflected on when he first spotted Defoe as West Ham United manager.

Redknapp said: "Jermain's an amazing finisher. He's sharp around the box. You give him half a chance he makes a yard and bangs it in the back of the net.

"The goals he scored in the 5-1 win at Hull were incredible but he's been doing that since he was 14.

"We took him at West Ham at 15 and he was a goalscoring machine. He'd do that at Chadwell Heath every Saturday morning, scoring for fun. I loaned him to Bournemouth and they said they needed a proper striker, a man not a kid.

"I said take him for training for a few days. He went there and the boss Mel Machin rang me and said 'Can we take him. We had a game this morning and he scored seven goals.' He ended up getting 10 in 10."

Redknapp added: "He's got stronger. He's using his strength a bit more, holding people off.

"He did some fitness work with the coaches here and he uses his upper body strength more.

"He's not lightweight any more. This could be a great season for him.

"Fabio Capello will see these goals and it's good for him to see his strikers in top form. I'd love to see all the Spurs lads go to South Africa."