Tottenham Hotspur hot-shot Jermain Defoe claims half-time teasing from Les Ferdinand inspired his hat-trick against Leeds United

Striker reveals cause of FA Cup treble.

4 Feb 2010 10:22:00

By Alan Dawson

More On :  Tottenham
FA Cup: Jermain Defoe, Leeds - Tottenham (Getty Images)

Banter has been cited as the catalyst behind Jermain Defoe's FA Cup fifth round hat-trick over Leeds United, according to the Tottenham Hotspur forward.

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Defoe had a flurry of chances to score in the opening half and, at half-time, had converted just one of them, prompting striking coach Les Ferdinand to poke fun at Defoe in the dressing-room.

"Les did say to me at half-time, 'If you don't get a hat-trick today then you're gonna get it'. That spurred me on a bit," the prolific Englishman explained to This Is London.

"He realised watching the game there'd be chances, especially second half."

Defoe's Tottenham Hotspur career has been separated by a Portsmouth sojourn, during which time, perhaps cruelly, he was prevented from appearing in Pompey's victorious FA Cup campaign in 2008 because he was cup-tied. His transfer meant he also missed out on Spurs' League Cup final success in February 2008, despite having appeared in all their games en route to the final.Then following his return to White Hart Lane an injury kept him out of another League Cup final.

"Everything happens for a reason. Looking back now maybe I just wasn't meant to play in those games. Obviously when I came back here, I was so close and I got injured, broke my foot - and it was my first injury ever.  

"I had an operation, was out for 10 weeks and wasn't meant to play in it. Hopefully this time I can get there.  

"It would be special knowing I missed out last season. It's hard for me to take - I was there supporting the lads, but when you miss out through injury it's difficult to take."

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