Rangers v Dundee United could see two former colleagues go head-to-head
Jermain Defoe and Calum Butcher may be on opposite sides at Ibrox this afternoon, but the Dundee United man only has positive words to say about his former colleague.
Butcher is expected to make his 100th appearance for the Terrors today, and the midfielder has been recalling his early years in the Tottenham youth system.
He failed to make a breakthrough in the first team and eventually left for Danish club FC Hjørring, but he has fond memories of his time in London.
Defoe, who is likely to be on the bench for Rangers today, took the youngster under his wing at White Hart Lane and his attitude has been hailed a decade on.
As quoted by the Glasgow Times, Butcher said: “When I started training with the first team, Jermain was there. He has had an incredible career, but I always remember how good he was with the young guys.
“He would always take time out to put an arm around the young lads and tell them to express themselves as much as they could.
“It can be difficult when you step out to train or play with the first team. But he was always one of the good ones who would try to help you.”
“When you go out to train with a team like Tottenham you have that nervousness. But it makes a big difference when you have guys like that trying to help you out.
“I’m now the same at United. Whenever any young lads come into the team I try to help them. They are trying to find their way and you want to help them in any way possible.”
Defoe, who is reportedly on £65,000 per week at Rangers, scored 143 goals in 362 appearances across two spells at Tottenham.
He’s on four in 12 this season at the age of 38, as Steven Gerrard’s men close in on the Scottish Premiership title.
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