CARSON, Calif. -- No player in MLS knows Jermain Defoe quite like his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate Robbie Keane, and as he prepares to lead playoff hopeful Toronto FC into StubHub Center, Keane understands that LA will have their hands full with the Englishman.
After missing the last two months with a hamstring injury, Defoe is expected to be available for selection when Toronto take on the Galaxy on Saturday. Although he's missed the last six games for TFC, he's still the team's leading goal scorer with 11 goals for the Reds.
"He's a fantastic player and a typical goal scorer. He can score many different types of goals and can finish all over the field," said Keane. "I bet that he's excited to get playing and I know that he doesn't like to be injured, so he'll be dangerous if he gets on the field, but I hope that he won't do too well against us."
Trumpted as a top tier signing in the offseason, Defoe's time with Toronto has been a turbulent one with the player repeatedly linked to a move back to his native England. Although rumors have swirled about Defoe's commitment to TFC, Keane says that his former teammate remains a valuable asset for Toronto.
"I wouldn't say that he's had a difficult time because when he's played, he's done well," added Keane. "You can't help injuries which is just part of what we do. People are simply saying that he's not adapting because of the speculation of him moving somewhere else. If you look at how he's played, he's scored goals."
As for the business of marking Defoe, Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez believes that much like New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, LA will be need to be mindful of his presence in the penalty area if they're to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games.
"Defoe is a great player, but we have to be focused on ourselves. If we can make Toronto run and chase the game by having possession than that's great. However as soon as we lose the ball, we have to be mindful of the space behind us because that's where he's the most deadly. He's a tricky player, but I'm sure that we have guys that can handle him."
