Defoe backs his arch critic

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Defoe and Jol's relationship has been soured by the England forward's refusal to sign a new deal.

Vote of confidence: Defoe

In addition, the arrival of Darren Bent at White Hart Lane has seen Defoe slip to fourthchoice striker, while Jol was critical of his failure to get on the scoresheet in a rare start against Anorthosis Famagusta on Thursday.

But with Jol admitting his career at Spurs is on a game-by-game basis, Defoe, named in the England squad yesterday, has put his personal issues with the manager to one side and appealed to the power brokers at White Hart Lane to keep faith.

"Everyone is behind the manager, everyone,' said Defoe. "People realise that since he came to the club he has done a great job, so why would anyone want to change this?

"At the end of the day, it is obviously up to the players to perform. Speak to any of the players and we all believe he should stay."

Defoe's vote of confidence is unlikely to see him handed a starting place at Liverpool tomorrow, but the striker is determined to force his way back into Jol's plans and has not given up hope of helping Spurs to a top-four spot this season despite their current position of third from bottom.

He said: "Obviously I want to play. It's not just the forwards like me and Darren Bent. It's the other players who cannot get in the team,but that's natural. 'We want to get into the Champions League. We want to make that happen and I still think we can do it."

A trip to Liverpool represents yet another stern test for Jol with the Dutchman, linked with the managerial post at Ajax if Henk Ten Cate departs for Chelsea, seemingly just one bad result away from the sack whatever the backing from his players.