ALAN PARDEW admits Newcastle United displayed interest in Jermain Defoe this summer, but the Magpies manager never expected the in-form Spurs striker to leave White Hart Lane.
Newcastle’s recruitment team assessed a number of centre-forwards prior to signing Loic Remy on a season-long loan from QPR, and Defoe was one of the players mentioned as a possible target given his lack of first-team involvement with Tottenham last term.
The England international spoke of his frustration at his failure to hold down a first-team place towards the end of last season, but the transfer window closed at the start of September with him still on Spurs’ books.
Once again, he has struggled to force his way into Andre Villas-Boas’ preferred Premier League line up, with the Tottenham boss tending to play summer signing Roberto Soldado as a lone striker.
However, Defoe has proved as effective as ever in the Europa League, with Thursday night’s penalty against Sheriff Tiraspol making him Spurs’ all-time record European goalscorer and potentially earning him a place against Newcastle tomorrow.
“I worked with Jermain at West Ham and think he is a fantastic player,” said Pardew, who is understood to have been one of the main figures pushing Defoe’s capabilities in the summer. “When the ball comes into him, whether it is left foot, right foot, he is hugely effective.
“He’s also good in the air for a fairly small fella. He's a terrific player, but really and truly I do not think he would come to this football club.
“There was a little bit of interest from us (in the summer), but he is a Spurs player and I think he is doing a good job there. Whenever he is called upon, he scores, so I would not be surprised if they start him on Sunday.”
Having booked their place in the Europa League knock-out phase on Thursday evening, Spurs’ players will be forced into a quick turnaround ahead of tomorrow’s lunch-time kick-off.
Villas-Boas will inevitably make changes, with the likes of Paulinho, Aaron Lennon, Lewis Holtby and Andros Townsend expected to return to the side after sitting out Thursday’s game.
Nevertheless, Pardew is only too aware of the difficulties involved in marrying Europa League commitments with the demands of the Premier League, and is hoping his side will benefit as a result.
Last season, Newcastle’s domestic form nosedived as they reached the Europa League quarter-finals, and while Tottenham’s squad is stronger in terms of both numbers and depth of talent, it is surely no coincidence that their only two defeats this season have followed hot on the heels of a European game.
“I think it is a difficult competition for Premier League clubs, and I’ve always said that” said Pardew, whose long-standing criticism of the Europa League format has also been borne out by Swansea City’s domestic struggles so far this season. “I do not think it is fair that in the modern game, with the physical demands there are, players are expected to be playing Thursday night and Sunday.
“It is tough, and tough on Spurs, but the advantage they have over us last year is numbers, quality numbers and experience as well.
“As a squad, they have a lot more experience of Europe than we had, and that goes for the staff as well. That gives them a slightly stronger hand. But hopefully it should help us, and I am not going to say that it doesn’t.”
That said, Pardew still expects Tottenham to be challenging for a Champions League place at the end of the season despite the exit of Gareth Bale.
Bale’s £85m move to Real Madrid dominated much of the summer headlines, but Villas-Boas has invested the money wisely, and the addition of the likes of Paulinho, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen has significantly strengthened the Tottenham squad.
“They’ve got so many players to choose from, and they certainly have the depth of squad to make them serious contenders for Europe,” said Pardew. “A Champions League position will be what they’re targeting, and I think they have a very good chance of that.
“You’re always going to miss someone who can produce goals out of nothing, like Bale did for Real Madrid in the week (against Juventus). But they’ve certainly used the money well in terms of making the group stronger, and I think he’s (Villas-Boas) got a stronger group now.
“Defensively, they’ve probably been the best side in the Premier League this season, so they’ve got a lot going for them at the moment.”
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