Jermain Defoe admits he might have to consider his future at Tottenham Hotspur after revealing his frustrations at his bit-part role this season.

The England striker has endured a disappointing season, in which a serious injury on international duty in the early stages was followed by a struggle to establish himself in Harry Redknapp's starting XI. Normally prolific, Defoe has scored only four Premier League goals, with five more coming in the cup competitions. With opportunities limited, he has found it difficult to find his rhythm.

Defoe is angry that his professionalism and best efforts in training have failed to result in a breakthrough and, privately, he feels that he has been the biggest victim of Redknapp's desire to accommodate Rafael van der Vaart, who signed from Real Madrid just before the closure of last summer's transfer window.

Redknapp has generally given Van der Vaart a free role off a lone striker, who has tended to be Peter Crouch, as the pair have dovetailed well. The manager has been forced to indulge Van der Vaart, who is a free spirit and roams all over the field, even when he starts on the flank, and there have been questions over whether he benefits the overall balance of the team.

"I want to help the club achieve things, win trophies and get in the Champions League, but when you feel like you are working hard, training hard and being professional, and then for some reason you are not playing, it is difficult," Defoe said. "It is frustrating. I am ambitious. I want to play in every game and score goals, especially when you score goals for a fantastic club like Tottenham. I have always been like that, from the first day I walked through the door and I truly believe that if I am playing games, I will score goals. I think my record shows that. It has been really, really hard to be honest. Players come and go, that is just football and it is out of my hands."

Defoe would prefer to remain at Tottenham and force his way back into the team but the 28-year-old's patience is wearing thin. "If you speak to any of the players and the fans, they will tell you that I am committed to the club," he said. "I love the club and I still get the same buzz that I did when I first walked out at White Hart Lane, which is important. But for me, the main thing is playing football and if I am not playing football then I am not happy, because I love my football."