JERMAIN DEFOE has promised to make an explosive start to his Sunderland career – starting with today’s emotionally-charged return to White Hart Lane.

Defoe will be part of Sunderland’s 18-man squad at Tottenham, where he scored 143 goals in two separate spells, having completed his switch from MLS side Toronto FC yesterday.

He was training with Spurs’ development squad prior to agreeing to move to Wearside, and is likely to receive a warm reception from the Tottenham fans prior to making his Black Cats bow.

His five previous career debuts have each seen him score at least one goal, and even though today’s game is sure to be a strange affair given the identity of the opposition, he is determined to hit the ground running once again.

“As a forward, you get judged on scoring goals,” said Defoe. “When you have set high standards of scoring goals over your career, people expect goals. Hopefully, I can play as many games as I can and get the chances, and I believe if I get the chances I will score goals.

“The experience of playing in the Premier League for a number of years will help, and as a player you just want to get your boots on, start playing and hopefully get off to a good start.”

Defoe came close to joining Sunderland during his time with Spurs, only for the proposed deal to falter despite him having visited Wearside, but the 32-year-old insists he is still making the switch at a time when he has plenty to offer.

He has spent the last two days training with his new team-mates, and has been impressed with what he has seen despite Sunderland’s position just a point above the relegation zone.

“I’m happy to be here,” he said. “I’m delighted. I’m just looking forward to the challenge. I remember a few years back, at some stage, I thought something was going to happen.

“It’s a great club and I’ve always enjoyed coming up here and playing against Sunderland because of the stadium and the fans. It’s a great place to play football. I’m looking forward to it.”

Defoe turned down a number of alternative offers to move to the Stadium of Light, with QPR and Crystal Palace pushing especially hard in an attempt to secure his services.

The offer of a three-and-a-half year deal at Sunderland clearly played a major part in his final decision, but Defoe claims the presence of his former Tottenham team-mate, Gus Poyet, was also a hugely important factor.

“Gus is a good man,” he said. “Even before I met him, before I signed for Tottenham, he was always someone I admired as a player at Chelsea with the goals he scored from midfield. He is a top professional.

“I spoke to Gus on the phone many times and he said, ‘It is a fantastic football club, you will enjoy it here’.

“I know how he wants the team to play, I have had many conversations already. It takes a little bit of time, but once you have trained with the boys, you can know what everyone is good at and know exactly how the manager wants to play.”

Whether Defoe starts this afternoon remains to be seen, but whatever his role, he is confident he can deal with the emotional turmoil of a return to White Hart Lane.

“That’s always how it happens isn’t it? It’s crazy,” he said. “It’s going to be tough. I’d been at Tottenham for ten years, it’s a good club. But there has been a lot of changes, there are a lot of new players there, and I believe if we go there and are well organised and create chances, we can win the game.”