Jol plays down Defoe decision

Tottenham coach Martin Jol has defended his decision to drop England striker Jermain Defoe and gave no clues as to whether he would be recalled against Wigan this weekend.

Defoe was left out of Tottenham’s starting line-up against his former club West Ham last Sunday although he did make an appearance as a second-half substitute.

Jol’s move took everyone by surprise as he opted to play Republic of Ireland international Robbie Keane in his place.

Keane has spent much of the season on the bench playing second fiddle to Defoe and strike partner Mido.

Defoe has scored just three goals in the Premiership this season and Jol said that while he acknowledges Defoe will have been frustrated by his decision, he does not expect him to sulk.

“Jermain’s was a similar frustration as other players will have if you leave them out,” said Jol.

“Robbie Keane was left out 12, maybe 13 times. But Jermain came on against West Ham and had two possibilities to score. If he put them away everybody was happy again.

“It’s about productivity. There is not a lot between them. Robbie is a terrific and gifted player and Jermain is as well, so it’s about making a choice.

"It is the same as with Chelsea. Hernan Crespo is playing and scoring and everybody says he is good and then Didier Drogba plays and everyone says you can’t leave him out.

“Jermain has done well. He has scored a few goals and has many assists. Robbie is always motivated, he never moans and that is all credit to him. We have to wait and see as far as Saturday is concerned.”

Meanwhile the Spurs coach denied there was any truth in stories linking their former Nottingham Forest winger Andy Reid with a £1m (€1.5m) switch to Championship side Leeds.

Reid has lost his place in the Spurs line-up since the arrival of Dutchman Edgar Davids but Jol maintains he is not looking to ship anyone out when the transfer window opens in January.

“It’s the same with all the stories. There is nothing in it,” countered Jol. “Andy Reid played yesterday for the reserves and had an outstanding game and that’s what I want from him. Two weeks ago he played for the reserves and was the best man on the pitch.

“He was not struggling at Spurs but we needed to take a step up and took Edgar Davids. Edgar is not a typical wide player but I have to make a choice between Andy and Edgar.

“I have Young-Pyo Lee in my concept and he is an overlapping left-back, so it is not a big problem.

"If I still had a left-back like Erik Edman for example, who did a very solid job but was not an attacking full-back, I would have to play with Andy. Andy is very young and he started off well but now he has got competition.”

Meanwhile Spurs have been boosted by the return to full fitness of winger Wayne Routledge although Jol says he will not be involved against Wigan this weekend.

Routledge has been out since the first game of the season when he fractured a bone in his foot but now the former Crystal Palace winger is on the brink of a return to the first team.

“Wayne is fit but he will not be involved against Wigan,” confirmed Jol. “But we hope to have him back next weekend.”

Routledge said: “It’s been a long, hard process but hopefully I’m at the end of that and now I’ll be able to get more involved, play more games and see where that takes me.

“This is my first serious injury but I’ve learned from it and hopefully I’ll come back stronger.”