Defoe: Lee's A Good Move

Jermain Defoe says the players can't wait to welcome Lee Bowyer to the club as soon as possible.

He feels the impending arrival of the England midfielder will really have a positive effect - and shake things up.

"When a new signing comes all the lads want to impress him and he wants to impress the fans," he says.

"It is always good, especially if they get off to a good start, like I did when I went to Bournemouth - it set me up for the rest of the season.

"You just want to show everyone you are good enough to wear the shirt.

"He is a good player, still young, but with good experience and a lot of energy - and he scores goals from midfield."

Like Lee, Jermain was at Charlton Athletic earlier in his career but, with a six-year age gap, contact was irregular.

"When I was at Charlton he was there," recalls Jermain, "but I was really young so I didn't see him that much.

"I spoke to him a few times though, I have known his dad since I was young, and I am sure he will be happy that his son is back home now."

Jermain feels Lee's critics are unfair on him and adds: "He is a nice lad and not a madman. He is just aggressive, someone in the middle that can win the ball - and is good going forward as well.

"Especially in the situation we are in, we need aggressive players in the team and I think Lee will do a good job.

"When you watch him play and see him going in for 50-50s you can see he is a winner - just what we want."

But he insists there is more to Lee's game than his tackling and insists: "I have had good battles with him but don't forget he is a good technical player, as well as the fact that he runs all day.

"I think he will enjoy it here. It is a good club and he will do well, and the sooner he signs the better so he can get training with us."

Indeed Lee could join what might be an England midfield quartet of the future, leaving Jermain to enthuse: "Trevor was great in the World Cup, Michael and Joe are still young and with Lee in there as well it will be good."

And, with the possibility of Les Ferdinand joining this month, the young striker thinks the future could be rosier.

Glenn Roeder has rued the lack of an experienced target man to play alongside him this season, and Les could provide the missing piece of the jigsaw to do just that.

Says Jermain: "I was speaking about this with my family the other day. I know Les Ferdinand and I think his experience would help.

"He is a great target man, an international. His age doesn't matter at all and he is still fit and strong."