Nationwide England Player of the Weekend

2 September 2006
England 5-0 Andorra

With a fine strike from Steven Gerrard and braces from Crouch and Defoe, England open their Euro 2008 campaign with a win.

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Jermain Defoe has taken the prize of Nationwide England Player of the Weekend following his exciting performance during Tottenham Hotspur's victory over Portsmouth.

Defoe scored his first Premiership goal of the season on Sunday to send Steve McClaren a timely reminder of his qualities, and give his club three crucial points to fire them up the league table.

The Tottenham striker netted twice for England against Andorra last month but had not found the target for his club until his penalty against Portsmouth. And with competition for striking places hotting up, it was the perfect time for Defoe to break his domestic duck.

Wayne Rooney returns to the squad for the games against Macedonia and Croatia following suspension and, with Andrew Johnson being forced to withdraw from the squad through injury, there is great competition for places with Defoe, Peter Crouch and newly called-up Darren Bent all in form.

Defoe is confident he can continue his scoring run - for both club and country. He said: "What I need is a run of matches and people know I will get goals. I know we (Tottenham) have not scored many but I can fix it if I get the chance.

"I just have to be solid and remain patient. I am not worrying about the lack of goals. I am waiting for my chances and if I get them I will score. The season before last I got 23 and if I get chances I will put them away."

White Hart Lane boss Martin Jol has never had any doubts about the former West Ham star. He said: "It is a great thing for strikers to score goals. Jermaine is our back-up penalty taker and he took it very well."