Obika warns of threat from old Spurs pal Defoe
ST MIRREN forward Jon Obika is delighted to see old pal Jermain Defoe thriving in Scotland – but hopes he has an off-day on Sunday.
The pair were team-mates at Spurs and will be reunited this weekend when Rangers travel to take on Saints in Paisley.
Defoe already has six goals for the season including a hat-trick in Rangers’ last league meeting against Hibernian. And Obika knows the St Mirren defence will need to be at their best to stop him.
He said: “I know Jermain quite well. We were at Spurs at the same time. I saw that he scored a hat-trick last weekend and a few other goals, so he has hit the ground running this season already.
“You just have to look at his pedigree to know what kind of player he is. Our defenders will have to keep an eye on him but they are looking forward to that test.
“Beating Aberdeen has given us a lot of confidence that we have a good group of players. Every training session I see us getting closer and closer to where want to be.
“It is up to us to continue the way we are playing. We have set the benchmark now and we need ensure that standards don’t drop.”
Obika has spent most of his career in the English lower leagues and has been impressed with the Scottish game since moving north at the start of the month. He added: “The standard up here is really good.
“I knew a couple of the boys before I came up. Tony Andreu was at Coventry City and I played against him, while Sam Foley was at Northampton. But you can tell, even from the youngsters, that there is a lot of talent here.
“It is important to me that I take on a little bit of responsibility in helping the younger ones. I want to give good advice on the pitch.”
You just have to look at his pedigree to know what kind of player he is. Our defenders will have to keep an eye on him