GUS POYET has confirmed that new signing Jermain Defoe will be part of the Sunderland squad that travels to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham tomorrow.

Defoe completed his switch from MLS side Toronto FC earlier today, with Jozy Altidore heading to Canada in the opposite direction.

The former England international has completed two full training sessions with his new Sunderland team-mates, but has not played a competitive match for almost four months.

He will definitely be available to face his former club at White Hart Lane, although the most likely scenario at the moment is that he starts on the substitutes' bench.

Poyet said: "I am delighted and he is available. Now, it is a mater of deciding whether he starts or comes off the bench.

"Jermain and myself need to be careful. I would like him on the pitch and he wants to play, but he has been out for three or four months.

"We need to be smart. We play Saturday to Saturday, so it's not like there is a game every three days. We need to take things carefully, but he will be important for sure."

Poyet played with Defoe at Tottenham as he was coming towards the end of his own playing career, and also worked with the 32-year-old during his time on the coaching staff at White Hart Lane.

The pair's friendship was a key factor in Defoe's decision to reject a number of other Premier League clubs in order to sign a three-and-a-half year deal with Sunderland, and Poyet has no doubt that he has acquired one of the best goalscorers in the English game.

He said: "We have to score more goals now because we have a proven goalscorer at our club. I've played with Jermain and he will score goals.

"He wants to win whatever he is playing - a small game a friendly or whatever. Having Jermain with you, you have a chance of winning.

"I've coached him a bit and seen the finishing quality he has, and I am looking forward to having him every day. He is easy to talk to, and already it looks like he has been here a month, even though he has only been here two days.

"His aim was to come back to England, and he had plenty of options. It was hard work, but the club did a great job."

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