Tottenham defender Kyle Walker is well aware of the threat that former striker Jermain Defoe can cause as his side prepare for a reunion with their former striker at the Stadium of Light.
The 32-year-old Sunderland striker scored 137 goals over two spells at White Hart Lane before departing to the MLS and what appeared to be semi-retirement. He has now returned to the Premier League, where he has been joined by another ex-Tottenham player, one-time captain Younes Kaboul.
And whilst Walker is looking forward to seeing his former colleagues in the north east he is conscious of the threat both Defoe and Kaboul can pose.
“We all know what JD can do in and around the box so we need to be switched on defensively for that,” Walker told the club website. “And Younes has been a fantastic servant to the club and especially for me he taught me a lot when I was here in my first season. He looked after me and I have a lot to thank him for.
“I think it’s going to be an exciting game, we always like to take it to the opposition but we have to show respect to the home side. They’ll have the crowd behind them but we need to stick to the gameplan.”
The match against Dick Advocaat’s side should give Tottenham a chance to revive a faltering start to the campaign which has seen them go without a win in their opening four Premier League matches.
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However Walker maintains that Spurs’ results have been deceptive and that Mauricio Pochettino and company should be mostly happy with the start to the campaign.
He said: “The only one I feel was a bit of disappointment was the Stoke game, going 2-0 up with so little time left that should be game done. We let them come back in to the game. That’s something we need to correct.
“Luckily it’s done now and we can correct it through to the end of the season. I’m happy with the team’s playing, but we’ve drawn three and lost one so it’s only upward steps from here.”
