Defoe - Great to be back

Striker savours reception on return to White Hart Lane

Last updated: 7th January 2009

Defoe - Great to be back

Defoe: Happy to return

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Jermain Defoe admits it is 'great to be back' at Tottenham Hotspur after conceding he did not want to leave 12 months ago.

The striker is expected to complete his return to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth for a fee in the region of £15million after undergoing a medical and discussing personal terms.

Defoe had left Spurs for Pompey in search of regular first-team football at the end of last year's January transfer window and linked up with Harry Redknapp at Fratton Park.

Redknapp quit Pompey to become Spurs boss in October and Defoe acknowledged that played a key role in his decision to return to North London.

"There were a number of things," Defoe told Sky Sports when asked for his reasons on going back to Spurs.

"Obviously, everyone knows the manager was a major factor in coming back. The fans are fantastic and my family are still in London."

Fantastic

The England international was paraded to Spurs fans before the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Burnley and he enjoyed the reception.

He added: "It was an unbelievable reception, fantastic.

"It's great to be back, I'm really looking forward to the challenge."

Though Defoe acknowledged he never wanted to leave Spurs, he believes the move to Portsmouth was to the benefit of his career.

"I think as a professional there comes a time, sometimes, that you feel you need to move on," he continued.

"I had to do that to keep my England career and just to play football and be happy again, and score some goals.

"I didn't really want to go in the first place."