Appetite for goals
Ageless Defoe is hungry for more with Rangers
SATISFYING Jermain Defoe’s greed is paramount for Steven Gerrard and Rangers. That may sound like a financial subject regarding a star lavishly rewarded for scoring prowess throughout a prolific career and who won’t come cheap even on a deal playing through his 38th birthday.
However, to ensure the veteran striker sticks around for next season, the selling points that matter do not relate to the weight of wage Rangers have presented to him.
The gluttony needing addressed is that Defoe remains absolutely ravenous for top-level action, goals and augmenting a surprisingly threadbare medal collection.
Just like with his unerring penaltybox finishes, Defoe has found the right place. All he needs to do is be fulfilled by playing a big role in Rangers chasing down Celtic and attempting to land an historic championship.
There was evidence on Friday
at Easter Road of how pivotal he could be down a punishing second half of the season stretch and, crucially, of his contentment at stepping in to score on a huge night for Gerrard’s side.
Defoe expertly struck the third goal for Rangers against Hibernian on a night when the pressure was cranked up as the title race approached its mid-season turn.
Five points behind Celtic, the last thing Rangers, minus explosive top scorer Alfredo Morelos, needed was a visit to an on-form Easter Road outfit under new management.
Devastating finishes from Ryan Kent and Joe Aribo within the first eight minutes emphatically answered the poser about Rangers being better equipped this season to cope whenever Morelos is taking one of his disciplinary breathers.
A far sharper Defoe than the one who arrived last January completed an impressive road win to join his Colombian colleague on 11 league goals for the campaign. Seven of his previous eight appearances were off the bench but the striker, who turned 37 in October, is keeping himself in superb shape to contribute when called upon.
With the ferocity of a battle for major honours with Celtic lying ahead, Defoe is primed to contribute for Gerrard, who cannot imagine a better place for his former England team-mate to be.
Gerrard stressed: ‘If you can name me a team who can offer him what we’re offering in terms of size of club, in terms of opportunity at his age, in terms of the dressing room, the respect he has got of the staff and the players, then I will have a debate with you.
‘He has got everything here that he needs. It’s a fantastic club — and he is going to get more and more opportunities.
‘Come the end of the season, he will be satisfied with his game time. I am sure he is going to get a high number of goals. He has got a big, big part to play.
‘We make sure he knows how important he is here. I think the club have been really quick in terms of letting him know how much he is wanted, which should also be important to Jermain as well because sometimes the grass is not always greener.’
Fellow veterans Steven Davis and Allan McGregor are signed up for another season but Defoe cannot officially follow — if he is so inclined — until he moves into the final six months of his Bournemouth contract in a few weeks.
Rangers, for their part, have made their stance perfectly clear. The deal is on the table.
And Gerrard, in the firm belief Defoe will continue in the penalty box form he showed in the 53rd minute on Friday for at least another 18 months, hopes the player’s expressed enthusiasm for staying can be construed as a gentleman’s agreement.
‘I am hoping it is a formality but until it is done and signed it is not,’ warned Gerrard.
‘I listen to all his Press and he seems like he is having a real good time. Of course, he thrives off game time and opportunity.
‘That needs to be there but we have also got another forward who has been in terrific form.
‘But I was really pleased with Jermain against Hibs and he has given me something to think about on Boxing Day.
‘We will make sure the offer is suitable for him in terms of the package from a football point of view — and also we have to look after him as well.
‘We believe we are doing everything we can to make him happy and make him want to stay here.
‘You can see the fans adore him so, for me, it makes sense for him to
continue his journey here because I believe we are going in the right direction.
‘We’ve already sat down with Jermain. He knows exactly what we want, he knows the offer. We just have to obviously respect Bournemouth. But when the time is right and Jermain is ready, we are ready.’
Gerrard has assured Defoe he will be happy with the amount of football he’s played for Rangers come May.
That, of course, is appreciated. Just don’t expect the man to meekly accept he will be playing second fiddle to anyone — even one in the blistering form of Europa League hero Morelos.
Defoe stated: ‘I think you want to play every game. If I wasn’t really
He has a big part to play and he is going to get more opportunities
We believe we are doing everything we can to make him happy and to want to stay here
bothered about playing then I think the manager would be wondering: “Has he lost that fire?”
‘But the fact I’m still hungry to play every game, hungry to train in every session. I think the manager likes that.
‘Regardless of the age, it doesn’t matter. Age is just a number. The day I wake up and be happy not to be playing football, then I may as well stop.
‘So of course you want to play every game but when I do get my opportunities I feel confident I’ll take them.’
Rangers break for the winter shutdown following a Boxing Day home tie against Kilmarnock then next Sunday’s clash at Celtic.
Defoe hints that confirmation could come as soon as the New Year when Rangers will jet off to Dubai for warm weather training.
‘I’m still on loan so my situation is different from Davo and Greegsy,’ he explained. ‘But hopefully it will be sorted and I can enjoy this season and we can achieve something special together.
‘I’ve always been a player who lets the agents do all that stuff as I just want to focus on my football and not get too involved in the negotiations.
‘Obviously the manager and those at the club have made it clear that they want me to stay. From day one, the appreciation from the fans and the people around the training ground and everyone at the club since I’ve been here has been amazing.
‘I’ve only been here a short time, really, and it’s a nice feeling for myself and my family.’
Defoe and Davis last winter and McGregor before them were recruited to bring their veteran winning mentality to Gerrard’s group in addition to their obvious talents.
In a sure sign of progress from the manager’s first season which featured three league draws with Hibernian, Rangers confidently swept aside their hosts to briefly reduce the gap at the top to leaders Celtic.
‘Handling that is part and parcel of playing for a club of this size,’ noted Defoe. ‘Anywhere in the world, if you play for a big team, every game is a cup final and you have to perform.
‘Importantly we got the three points, they were massive.’