Harry - Defoe can be tops

Defoe: Best predator, according to Redknapp

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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes Jermain Defoe can finish the season as top scorer in the Premier League.

The England striker will lead the Spurs line against Sunderland on Saturday after returning from a three-match ban.

He had scored six times in the league prior to his suspension and Redknapp is hoping for more of the same.

He said: "He has looked sharp, he's looked like every game he is going to score, so hopefully tomorrow he can come out and get back scoring goals.

"There's no reason he can't be leading goalscorer in the Premier League. He's got as good a chance as anybody.

"We make lots of chances at this club so if he continues to stick them away he'll have an opportunity."

Best predator

Redknapp labelled Defoe as the best predator in the top flight, adding: "He's a box player, he doesn't get that much involved in the build-up play.

"But when it comes into the box, his finishing and his quickness puts him right up there with the best."

Former Spurs striker Darren Bent returns to White Hart Lane for the first time since his acrimonious switch to Sunderland in the summer.

The 25-year-old launched an infamous Twitter rant at the Tottenham board as he sought a move to the Black Cats.

Equally memorable was Redknapp's blast at Bent following the striker's miss late on in Spurs' 1-1 draw against Portsmouth in January this year, with the Spurs boss claiming his "missus could have scored that".

Bent has since revealed he never felt he had the confidence of his former boss but Redknapp insists it was never his desire to humiliate Bent that day.

He said: "It wasn't just because it was Darren Bent. It could have been anyone.

Cor blimey

"There were probably four million blokes sitting watching TV that night and when they saw that thought 'Cor blimey, my woman would have scored that'.

"But after that he played the League Cup final. I started him up front and I played him. I have no problem with Darren Bent."

Bent, Defoe and fellow Spurs forward Peter Crouch are vying to nail down a place in England's squad for next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, and Redknapp believes that battle will run and run.

"The striking positions are wide open. (Wayne) Rooney plus who else?" Redknapp added.

"I can certainly see Crouch going because he's different. He gives you an option that nobody else gives you when things are tight and, against foreign defences, if you want to go over the top.

"He can change the game for you. He's a must to have in your squad.

"Then you've got Defoe in terrific form. You've got Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole and Darren Bent, who's in there with a chance."