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Harry Redknapp today warned Jermain Defoe that another act of petulance this season could cost him a place in England's World Cup squad.
Defoe returns to action for Tottenham against Sunderland tomorrow after completing a three-match suspension, imposed for his red card for stamping on Aaron Mokoena during a 2-1 win against his former club Portsmouth on 17 October.
Redknapp revealed he had spoken to Defoe again about the need to stay calm on the pitch, and believes England boss Fabio Capello will demand greater self-discipline from Tottenham's top scorer.
"It's no good for us or him if he does things like that," said Redknapp, whose side are aiming to return to winning ways after successive Premier League defeats by Stoke and Arsenal.
"I'm sure even the England manager is looking at it and thinking Jermain can't get that way. He was getting stick at Portsmouth and it got to him, but he can't afford to do it again.
"You always need a player like him. He's a goalscorer, he's sharp, he looked in great form, and then he got that suspension. He would have scored had he been available for the Stoke game."
Defoe's return to White Hart Lane last January pushed Darren Bent closer to the exit door, with the forward moving to Sunderland during the summer for a fee which could rise to £16million - but not before an embarrassing rant at Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on Twitter.
Bent has scored eight goals for his new club and Redknapp said: "He will want to come back here and show everyone what he can do. We need to be ready for that."
Reader views (4)
So our best goalscorer should leave because of one disgression - did Ferguson have that attitude with Roy Keane! If so he would have left after 2 games. He is our best striker and should be first on the team sheet tomorrow - he will be raring to go and we really need a win to get back on track. He has been punnished for missing three games, leave it at that.
- James, TOTTENHAM
Harry, don't be sentimental, my friend, he let the team down by not listening to you and getting sent off, but i bet he starts?
Got to show him by example....Poor Roman, maybe this is the way to behave and play.
Put him on the bench.
- Adrian, london
Yeah i agree, but he should sit on the bench, he could of been playing in the last few games, he let the team down and now gets his place back?
Hmm, i know how Pav must feel, maybe thats what he should do. Harry please don't start with Crouch...
- Adrian, london
Harry, never mind Defoe and England, if this twerp steps out of line again, show him the exit door from WHL.
- Ted, London
