Jermain Defoe says he used to watch Ian Wright at West Ham United

Jermain Defoe, now at Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox club Glasgow Rangers, was at West Ham United with Ian Wright.

20th January 2019, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland; Mid season football friendly, Rangers v Helsinki; Jermiane Defoe of Rangers made his debut for Rangers Jermain Defoe of Rangers

Rangers striker Jermain Defoe has revealed to The Daily Record that he used to closely follow Ian Wright when they were at West Ham United.

Defoe, who joined Rangers on loan from Bournemouth in the January transfer window, started his professional club football career at West Ham.

The 36-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur striker was on the books of the Hammers from 1999 until 2004.

Wright made his name at Crystal Palace and Arsenal, and the former England international striker had a short spell at West Ham in 1998-99.

Defoe has revealed that when he and Wright were at West Ham, he used to following him closely – comments which will make the former Celtic and Burnley striker proud.

Defoe told The Daily Record: “When I was at West Ham when I was young, I was like a sponge. I used to watch everything.

“I was a massive Ian Wright fan before so it was a dream for me when I signed for West Ham at the age of 17 and Ian Wright was there.

“Without him even knowing, I used to watch his movement in training. I used to watch his finishing. I would watch him practice with both feet.”