Dominic Solanke set clear Tottenham challenge as Ange Postecoglou 'early days' point made

Jermain Defoe has heaped praise on Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke and backed the former Bournemouth man to make a real impact in north London.

over the summer in a deal worth £65million. The 27-year-old has impressed in his eight appearances so far this season, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists.

Solanke was rewarded with his recent good form with his first England call-up since 2017 and was even brought on by Lee Carsley in the Three Lions' 2-1 defeat to Greece last week. Defoe, who had two successful spells at , now believes Solanke should just "focus on playing well and improving".

Speaking to ahead of Tottenham vs West Ham this Saturday, Defoe said: "I like Dominic Solanke. He’s nicked a couple of goals now, which is good. He got off to a slow start and after three games, people were sort of questioning the signing. But I think that’s just part and parcel of football really, every player's had it.

"If you're not playing well, then people are going to come for you. If you're playing well then everyone loves you. I did say that he'll come good. He’ll score goals because of the way Tottenham play, they create a lot of chances. So it's just up to him to take them.

"I think for him, he just needs to just focus on playing well and improving. He's just got back in the England squad, which is good. I know he didn't get any minutes, but just to be amongst it is good. Ivan Toney's gone to Saudi, so there's a space there. You've got Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins who will always be involved. I think for him, just focus on goals, focus on playing well and improving, and keep himself in and around the English squad."

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Tottenham have had a mixed start to the 2024/25 season and currently sit ninth in the Premier League, having lost three of their opening seven games. Defoe, though, has backed his old side to have a decent campaign.

"It's early days, I think," the former Premier League striker said. "There’s a long way to go. Last season, the first 10 games of last season, people were making a lot of noise about Tottenham, with the way they were playing and stuff like that, because it was different from under Antonio Conte.

"Ange came in and changed the style. He came with his sort of like philosophy, and the players have bought into that straight way. The new signings had hit the ground running.

"And this season they’ve not had the same start, but at the same time, I do feel like it's still early days. It's a long season, but I wouldn't say it's been the same start as last season. When you look at the [Manchester] United game, you saw signs there that it's a team going in the right direction. But even from the first game against Leicester, and then the loss to Newcastle, it's been a sort of stop-start season really so far."