Jol believes Defoe is 'crucial part' of Tottenham trophy hunt

The Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe "is going nowhere" according to the club's head coach, Martin Jol.

Defoe, 24, has not been a regular this season but has scored five in his last four starts, and reports have linked him with a move when the transfer window opens. However, Jol is determined to keep Defoe at the club as they remain in all the cup competitions and are looking to climb the Premiership table following an indifferent start.

The Dutchman said: "Jermain is going nowhere. I'm not going to sell someone who is playing such a crucial part to our challenge in the Carling Cup, Uefa Cup and Premiership.

"There is always speculation about Jermain. The transfer window will come up again in a month's time and he has already been linked with Manchester United, Liverpool Aston Villa and Portsmouth."

Jol has Dimitar Berbatov in fine form at the moment, while Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane was preferred to Defoe for the recent win over Chelsea and matches in Europe.

With the club playing eight games in December, starting with Saturday's meeting with rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, Jol may need to rotate his strikers, particularly as Mido has a groin injury.

"Jermain is very important to us. There is all this talk about him not playing regularly and yet he has started six of the last nine games," Jol said. "Robbie has only started three games in the Premiership lately but no one talks about him wanting to go. Jermain can do nothing about it.

"People are saying he's lacking in confidence because he's not playing. But they are not checking the facts."

Meanwhile, Spurs officials believe the congested fixture schedule is a benefit to the club. "It helps in attracting players to the club and keeping players at the club," the club's executive director, Paul Barber, said. "The fans want to see the club being as successful as possible, playing in as many competitions as possible, and this season they are getting it.

"We've got four games in 15 days in December, that's the kind of pressure the fans want and we're all enjoying it. Every professional sports team is competing to win and we're no different."