Source: Times

Jermain Defoe’s first spell with Tottenham Hotspur proved frustrating because of the infrequency with which he started matches, so perhaps it was Sod’s law that he should fracture the fifth metatarsal on his right foot in training five matches into his return to the club. A chirpy, bubbly forward who says that he is miserable when not playing, spending ten weeks on the sidelines has driven him to despair.

The punchbag in his home gym has repeatedly borne the brunt of his exasperation, but Defoe will return to full training next week and, while his manager and the medical staff may have other ideas, he is itching to play against Newcastle United a week on Sunday. That is a fresh battle for the 26-year-old to try to overcome.

His most recent goal helped Tottenham to move three points clear of West Bromwich Albion at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League, but less than two days later he broke his foot. Now his team have their eye on seventh place, which is likely to deliver a European spot. It will help them if they can defeat West Ham United, Defoe’s former club, tomorrow.

Defoe is restless, the kind of restlessness that is born of frustration and coming to terms physically and mentally with his first lengthy injury. He has no football at his feet, no match in which to apply his skill, no goal celebration to perform. There is no release or relief. Being cooped up has been the hardest part for a player who is a livewire on the pitch.

“It is boring, boring,” he said. “I hate watching games. I can’t keep still. I could not do anything, except put my feet up and watch television and play PlayStation. It was a nightmare. I had the boot on when I was on crutches, it was horrible. I must have the strongest arms after using the crutches. I am ready to play.”

He drew on his Catholicism as well as the realisation that, from the time he was a young man kicking the ball on the streets of Beckton, in the East End of London, he has never had a proper break in his career. “It was a massive blow as I felt sharp,” he said. “You get downs in the season, when it is like you are going through the motions and you feel a little low \.

“I had one of those ugly boots on my foot and I was on the physiotherapist’s case all the time. ‘Do I have to wear this boot?’ They said you have to rest. The physiotherapist has been good. The fitness guy has done a lot of work — killing me. I hate him.”

For the first time in his career, his days have been mapped out in almost regimental fashion: running and other exercises, then a break; recharge with energy and protein shakes; then a weights session, another break and, finally, more power work.

He kicked the ball in anger for the first time this week and graduated to twisting and turning, then changing direction and shooting. “If anything I will be stronger when I come back,” he said.

Defoe’s injury forced him to miss the Carling Cup final on March 1, in which Tottenham lost on penalties to Manchester United. That setback came a little more than a year after he had left the club and missed the previous season’s final against Chelsea. In between, while at Portsmouth, he was ineligible for their FA Cup victory. “That was the first thing I thought when I got injured,” he said.

The severity of his injury was the final act that persuaded Tottenham they needed to re-sign Robbie Keane from Liverpool. The Ireland forward’s return raised eyebrows because two recent Tottenham managers had believed that he and Defoe were not the best partnership. Defoe thinks otherwise, pointing out that they combined to score 12 goals in half a season after he joined in January 2004. Defoe scored 22 goals the following season, but Tottenham preferred a little-and- large pairing. “We played well, but people said that we could not play together,” he said. “Strange. Stupid. Robbie is a great player, drops off and I can stay high and make runs.”

Luck has been against him. He was unable to take advantage of injuries to fellow forwards, and establish a place in the England team. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Terrible. Frustrating.”

The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation aims to create opportunities that change lives for young people in its local community, and Defoe was visiting the newest of eight Kickz projects they run across North East London.