Spurs striker Defoe relishing big season

HONG KONG, July 27, 2013 (AFP) - Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe said Saturday he wants to fire Spurs into the Champions League and book his place in England's World Cup squad in the process.

The 30-year-old international scored a hattrick and set up another goal in the 6-0 demolition of South China in the Barclays Asia Trophy in sodden Hong Kong.

Spurs narrowly missed out again last season in the race for the lucrative Champions League and Defoe does not want another repeat of that heartache.

“When you have something to prove it makes you hungry and makes you work a bit harder, so I am looking forward to the season and if we can finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League it will be fantastic,” he said.