Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has backed Jermain Defoe ahead of tonight’s crunch Premiership clash against Hibernian, as quoted by the Glasgow Times.
The Gers go into the game looking to close the gap at the top of the table to two points but are without talisman Alfredo Morelos.
The Colombian striker is serving a one-match ban after his red card against Motherwell on Sunday, and so Defoe will be leading the line.
The veteran forward has 10 League goals this season, but has only started one of the last six matches in the competition and hasn’t netted since October.
“I have got every confidence in Jermain,” said Gerrard, as quoted by the Glasgow Times. “He has been training well and waiting for this type of opportunity.”
“I know his hunger, I know his professionalism, I know how he goes about his work to make sure that when opportunities to come in games he’s ready to pounce and execute on them.
“I’ve no doubt that, given the right service, we will score goals.”
Verdict
These are exciting words from the manager, who is clearly impressed by what he’s been seeing from Defoe at Auchenhowie in the build-up to this game.
The Gers have struggled for goals at Easter Road in the recent past, scoring just once in two visits there last season.
However, in Defoe, the manager has an excellent back-up option with razor-sharp finishing. After all, he did net a hat-trick against this opposition at Ibrox in August.
He’ll be hoping for something similar this evening in his first start since the 3-1 win at Accies last month.
Ahead of the game, why not check out our Match Preview on YouTube.
