Jermain Defoe scored his seventh goal of the season (Picture: AP)

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas admits Jermain Defoe’s performance in their 2-0 victory over Anzhi Makhachkala has given him a problem.

Defoe made just his fourth start of the season in Moscow, but netted his seventh goal of the campaign to open the scoring and move within just one goal of Martin Chivers’ European record for the club.

And Villas-Boas admitted he was delighted with the 30-year-old’s performance.

‘It was another great goal, a great finish. It’s really good to see him out there again doing extremely well whenever he’s given the opportunity,’ said the Spurs boss.




‘He is a great professional, has a great attitude and now he’s only one off Martin Chivers so it’s a real great achievement for him.

‘I think he has the ambition this season to go even further up the ladder in this record tally behind Martin Chivers and as a all-time goalscorer so I think that plays highly in his motivation, definitely.’

MORE: Anzhi 0 – 2 Tottenham

Roberto Soldado has been first choice at White Hart Lane this season (Picture: Getty)

Summer signing Roberto Soldado did not feature in the 2-0 victory, in which Nacer Chadli bagged Spurs’ second goal and Villas-Boas admits he is unsure who will get the nod for Sunday’s encounter with West Ham.

‘We have to judge recovery and the fact that JD was involved today and Soldado wasn’t,’ he added. ‘Everything will come into consideration.

‘We have been extremely happy with the performances of both. It is a question of deciding what is best for the team.’

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