Jermain Defoe says Steven Gerrard has told him how delighted he is with his displays

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Jermain Defoe says his Rangers manager – and former international team-mate – Steven Gerrard is delighted with the way he’s started the season.

As per Sky Sports, Defoe says his old England team-mate is pleased with his performances on the pitch but also the influence he’s had on the club’s younger players.

He said of Gerrard: “He’s said to me he’s delighted with how I’m playing but not just that, with how I am around the place with the younger lads, helping everyone. It was nice for him to say that. If you become a manager you have to become a bit different, you’re the boss.

“But there’s times when he doesn’t say anything to me because he knows me. There’s times when he says to me ‘do you want a down day, a day to stay in and rest’ – because he knows I’ll say ‘no I want to play!’. He understands me. He’s my ex-team-mate and he knows I love scoring goals.”

TBR’s View – Defoe showing the value of experience in the dressing room

The veneer of ‘experience’ has been used many times down the years to get players who are over the hill one or two last contracts where they earn handsome wages for not very much at all.

But Defoe is fighting fit and shows the value of getting those older heads in the dressing room. Gerrard likely knew he would be like that because they’ve played together before.

Defoe looks after himself, still has that enthusiasm for the game and will be vital in guiding a raw dressing room towards silverware with his experience of the top level.