Jermain Defoe is aiming to join the elite group of top 10 goalscorers in Barclays Premier League history after SECURING
his return to the competition with Sunderland last week.
his return to the competition with Sunderland last week.The former England striker joined the Black Cats on a three-year deal from Major League Soccer side Toronto FC, having spent most of his career in the Barclays Premier League before his switch to Canada in February 2014. Defoe missed out on a debut goal on Saturday against his former club Tottenham Hotspur, whom he left to join Toronto after scoring 91 times in the Barclays Premier League during two spells at White Hart Lane.
| JERMAIN DEFOE IN THE BPL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CLUB | DATES | MATCHES | GOALS |
| West Ham | 2000-04 | 74 | 18 |
| Spurs | 2004-08 | 139 | 43 |
| Portsmouth | 2008-09 | 31 | 15 |
| Spurs | 2009-14 | 137 | 48 |
| Sunderland | 2015 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 382 | 124 | |
But the 32-year-old, who has 124 BPL goals for four different clubs, is confident he can strike again in England's top FLIGHT and is seeking inspiration from Kevin Phillips, who netted 30 goals in his debut BPL campaign for Sunderland, the highest total by a Black Cats player in the competition.
and is seeking inspiration from Kevin Phillips, who netted 30 goals in his debut BPL campaign for Sunderland, the highest total by a Black Cats player in the competition."I remember as a kid watching the Premier League and watching all the great strikers, even the great strikers that played for this club," Defoe said. "I loved Kevin Phillips in the season he scored 30 goals, fantastic season.
"You look at stuff like that and you come to a club like this and try to do the same, because it will be special. On a personal note, if I can push myself up in that list then it will be great."
Defoe is the 14th-highest scorer in the competition's history, and only needs four more to move to No 11 in the rankings. With Manchester United striker Robin van Persie as the 10th-highest all-time BPL goalscorer, Defoe is likely to have to eclipse Teddy Sheringham (with 146 goals at No 9) to reach the top 10.
Top 14 scorers in BPL history
| PLAYER | GOALS |
|---|---|
| Alan Shearer | 260 |
| Andrew Cole | 187 |
| Wayne Rooney* | 181 |
| Frank Lampard* | 176 |
| Thierry Henry | 175 |
| Robbie Fowler | 163 |
| Michael Owen | 150 |
| Les Ferdinand | 149 |
| Teddy Sheringham | 146 |
| Robin van Persie* | 142 |
| Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink | 127 |
| Robbie Keane | 126 |
| Nicolas Anelka | 125 |
| Jermain Defoe* | 124 |
*Currently playing in the Barclays Premier League
Defoe played alongside Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet at White Hart Lane, and he admitted that his relationship with the Uruguayan was a factor in his move to the Stadium of Light.
"That helps as well when you know the manager,” Defoe said. "I spoke to Gus on the phone on a few occasions and we spoke about systems and how we wanted to play.
"I played with Gus at Spurs, a good guy, and even before I met Gus he was someone I always admired as a player, someone who did so much in his career and someone who knows the game. He understands and that helps."
Credit to Premierleague.com
Credit to Premierleague.com
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