Jermain Defoe said today it feels "crazy" to be back at Tottenham and that he is desperate to repay the fans who never wanted him to leave. The striker joined Portsmouth 12 months ago but will make his second Spurs 'debut' against Wigan on Sunday after returning in a £16million move.

Although the deal was only completed today, Defoe received a rapturous welcome when he was paraded before the White Hart Lane crowd on Tuesday night ahead of the Carling Cup semi-final against Burnley.

The 26-year-old has revealed how Spurs supporters have been asking him to return ever since he left.

"It feels crazy," he said. "Since I left I've been getting texts and everywhere I go I bump into Spurs fans - it's just great to be back. The fans were probably the main factor. I spoke to my cousin and he said 'the fans love you there'. For me it is a strange feeling.

"When you get that many fans who appreciate what you do, it's hard to find words how I feel about it. I want to start afresh, like it's the first time, and hopefully score a lot of goals."

Deofe expects more players to follow him into White Hart Lane this month and accepts that manager Harry Redknapp needs to strengthen the squad if his ambitions are to be fulfilled.

Spurs are likely to have to give up on signing Stewart Downing, but they have other irons in the fire for the left-sided midfield role, with Sevilla winger Diego Capel and Hannover playmaker Szabolcs Huszti on their radar.

Defoe said: "I am sure the manager will bring in more new players. It is always the case that when a manager comes to a new club, he wants to sign his own players.

"Maybe a few more will come in this month to push the team on. Harry being here was a big factor in my returning. I was with him at West Ham and Portsmouth, so it was a major reason."

Defoe is keen to make up for the disappointment of last season, when he missed out on two cup finals because of the timing of his original transfer to Pompey.

Defoe's move to Fratton Park at the end of January meant he was no longer at the club for the Carling Cup Final win over Chelsea last February, while he was cup-tied for Portsmouth's victory in the FA Cup Final against Cardiff.

But he has not represented Pompey in domestic cup football this term, meaning he will be available for the second leg of Spurs' Carling Cup semi-final.

And with Redknapp's team leading the tie 4-1, there is every chance of a second Wembley appearance in as many years.

Defoe said: "Things happen for a reason. For some reason, I wasn't meant to play in the finals last year, so hopefully I can do it this time around. "It was a little factor in deciding to come back. Having missed both finals last year, if I could play in both the Carling Cup and the FA Cup Finals this year, it would be great for both me and the club."

Defoe only left for Pompey as he was behind Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane in the Spurs pecking order and needed regular football to get in Fabio Capello's England squad.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy let him go for fear of losing him for nothing when his contract ran out at the end of this season.

"We had been keen for Jermain to sign a new contract to extend his initial stay but at that point in time he felt it was in his interests to move on in order to guarantee himself more starts," Levy said.