Defoe hails 'mad Italian'

Jermain Defoe is relishing the prospect of meeting up with former West Ham team-mate Paolo Di Canio at the Valley tonight.

The Italian was a huge influence on Defoe's progress at Upton Park and the pair will do battle when Tottenham meet Charlton in the Premiership at The Valley this evening.

Defoe said: 'Paolo "the mad Italian" was great. I learned a lot from him and if you don't do that, you've got problems. Paolo is so passionate about his football. He must be 35 now but he's still going strong.

He's so professional and fit. I'm looking forward to seeing him and playing against him.'

Acting manager David Pleat has a number of injury worries ahead of tonight's clash. Striker Helder Postiga (hamstring) and midfielder Darren Anderton (achilles) miss out while Mauricio Taricco is doubtful with a foot injury.

Meanwhile, Alan Curbishley has claimed that Charlton have been shortchanged given the role they played in developing Defoe.

The club received £700,000 following Defoe's £7million move to Tottenham last week, taking the total they have earned from the player past £2m, but Curbishley believes they deserve a bigger reward for discovering the star striker.

Defoe came through the youth system at The Valley before moving to West Ham as a 16-year-old in 1999. A Football Association tribunal awarded Charlton £1.4m in compensation and 15 per cent of his sell-on value above that figure.