Jermain Defoe is ready to hit the ground running this season after a disappointing campaign last year.
Striker determined to make amends after poor campaign last term
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is ready to hit the ground running this season after a disappointing campaign last year.
The England international hit just four Premier League goals as injuries hampered his form, with his confidence and goal return slumping as a result.
Defoe blames last term's failings on lack of pre-season action due to the World Cup in South Africa, but has had no such obstacle this time around.
"It was the first season where I've had injuries and it's been so up and down," Defoe told the club's
official website.
"It was really stop-start and I couldn't get going, couldn't get into the rhythm that I normally get into. That's why I'm looking forward to this season and to get off to a good start.
"I always feel sharp in pre-season because the work we do is hard anyway," he added. "I always put the effort in.
Working hard
"Even before the start of the season I was away in the South of France for 10 days, working hard before we came back."
Defoe was on target in Spurs' last friendly of the summer, a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday and the 28-year-old is eager to get started against Everton on Saturday.
He said: "In the game at the weekend against Bilbao I felt really sharp and to be honest, that's the sharpest I've felt for a long time.
"I remember the season before last when we went to China and played West Ham and Hull, I felt sharp in that pre-season but last season I didn't really get much of a pre-season because of the World Cup.
"It was important for me to get a good pre-season this time around, to get five or six weeks to prepare, I've done that and now I'm ready."
