ON TO GRAB HIS CHANCE Defoe’s club deal good news for Lions

MOLDOVA v ENGLAND Friday, 7.45pm – Live on ITV1

JERMAIN DEFOE reckons England are about to reap the reward of his new Tottenham deal.

The Spurs hitman will shoulder the responsibility of being the senior striker in Roy Hodgson’s squad this week.

Defoe will be expected to provide the firepower when the Three Lions kick-off their World Cup qualifying campaign in Moldova on Friday – and then face Ukraine at Wembley next Tuesday.

And he insists he will go into the back-to-back clashes on a high after landing a three-year contract to stay at White Hart Lane last Friday.

Speculation

Defoe had been tipped to be off-loaded as part of manager Andre Villas-Boas’ rebuilding plans.

But the new boss has backed the experienced forward – and Defoe insists he is firing on all cylinders.

The striker said: “Once you have sat down and signed a new contract, you feel a lot more settled and can focus on playing well.

“When you are unsettled it’s not good because you’re not sure if you’re going to get a phone call saying the club has agreed for you to go somewhere else. When there is speculation about you, people ask if you are staying or going and you don’t really know the answer.

“Now I’ve signed the contract, I can just put my full focus on my work.”

With Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll crocked, Defoe is the old head alongside youngsters Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge.

And he accepts he has a major role to play in guiding the rookies through a crucial stage of the campaign.

“Yes, there’s more responsibility,” he said. “There is more responsibility on the whole squad. We don’t know what the team is going to be yet.

“It’s a case of training well, working hard and if you’re selected you have to take the opportunity with both hands.”

Defoe has been around long enough to know England will be making a huge mistake of they underestimate Moldova.

He added: “At this level every game is difficult. Moldova will make it hard and sit behind the ball and try to frustrate us.

“I have played in a number of games against the so-called smaller countries and it’s difficult to get the first goal.

Stunning

“It will be a tough game. When we get the first goal, hopefully we can go and get the second.”

Defoe started the new international season in style when he grabbed a stunning winner in the August friendly against Italy. But he insists the hard work starts now.

The striker said: “When you play for your country you always want to score goals.

“It was important to win against Italy. It was the first international game of the season so to get off to a winning start was important and it was nice to get the goal.

“Everything changes now you play for points, but even in friendlies you need that winning mentality.

“Even though you’re not playing for points you still want to win the game because at this level every game is going to be difficult.

“When a new manager comes in, everything changes and it does feel like a new start for everyone.

“Once you get back in the squad, it’s important to stay there.”