Jermain Defoe defends former Tottenham team-mate after disastrous Sunderland start

Jermain Defoe has defended Younes Kaboul and described him as a good character

JERMAIN DEFOE has leapt to the defence of under-fire Sunderland team-mate Younes Kaboul.

 

Centre-back Kaboul has endured a torrid start to his Black Cats' career following his summer move from Tottenham.

Sunderland are bottom of the table and the Frenchman has been a part of a woeful backline which has already conceded seven goals.

 

 

Despite his team-mate's defence, Kaboul (right) could lose his place as a Sunderland starter

Either Seb Coates or Kaboul are set to pay the price for Sunderland's disastrous start with manager Dick Advocaat planning to recall club captain John O'Shea against in-form Swansea on Saturday.

But Defoe, a former team-mate of the 28-year-old at Spurs and Portsmouth, is backing Kaboul to prove his pedigree and play a key role in a Black Cats revival.

"Younes is a good character," said Defoe. "I've played with him at three clubs now and he's a natural leader and strong player.

 

"It is difficult for him though because he hasn't had a pre-season. At Spurs, they were looking to off-load him and he wasn't involved in the first team, so he's still getting his fitness and sharpness.

"But when he gets that level of fitness, he is a machine and someone who will be brilliant for us."

Defoe was unable to celebrate his 400th Premier League game on Saturday as Advocaat's strugglers crashed to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat at the hands of newly-promoted Norwich.

After holding a crisis meeting on Sunday, the players were off yesterday but director of football Lee Congerton is working hard to bolster the squad in time for the weekend with negotiations still on-going with Liverpool for striker Fabio Borini.