Throughout a professional career spanning almost two decades, Jermain Colin Defoe has established himself as one of the most consistent goal-scoring strikers of his generation and a potential move to Rangers could see him rediscover that form.

The 36-year-old has scored in each of the last 17 Premier League seasons (excluding this season), surpassing double figures on ten occasions with an amassed total of 162 top flight goals, incredible accolades that as a teenager, Defoe would have struggled to comprehend.

As a boy, the Beckton-born striker got his first taste of football playing five-a-side at Newham Leisure Centre before joining Sunday league team Senrab FC, a club renowned for kickstarting Premier League talent including John Terry, Ledley King and Ashley Cole.

Having impressed at Senrab, Defoe joined FA’s National School Of Excellence aged 14, and as he continued to perform, his instinctive prowess in front of goal we have come to define him with soon became known.

Charlton Athletic picked him up soon after, he spent two years at the Addicks before taking the plunge into professional football as a 16-year-old at West Ham, a decision many questioned at the time, but one that 20 years on comes with no regret or critique I’m sure.

Initially playing in the Under-19 side at West Ham, Defoe helped the Hammers to a Premier Academy League title in 1999-2000, earning himself a loan move to second tier club AFC Bournemouth the following season.

A loan spell intended to get Defoe first team experience soon turned into much more. He moved in September 2000 and between October and January scored twelve goals in ten consecutive league matches and finished the season with 18 goals in 29 games.

A breakthrough season for an 18-year-old that was destined for goal scoring greatness from this point on. To quote West Ham’s Harry Redknapp at the time: “Nothing knocks him, he’s a typical goal scorer. If he misses, he’ll be there the next time looking for a goal.” How accurate that has proved to be throughout his career.

The season after, Defoe was West Ham’s top scorer with 14 in all competitions as they finished 7th in the Premier League. It soon became common knowledge that goals were guaranteed when Defoe was in town and Tottenham, Portsmouth and Sunderland all had the privilege of witnessing the lion’s share of his lethal finishing ability.

Rangers looking the next likely step for Defoe, and even at the age of 36, it would be largely unsurprising if he went on to score double figures in the second half of this season’s Scottish Prem, wherever he goes, goals will follow.