Defoe De New Owen

Last updated : 19 March 2002 By Mike Reich

Defoe: The Black Owen?
Paolo di Canio has the highest praise for Jermain Defoe at the moment, and has compared him to Michael Owen - the top English striker at the moment, and surely one of the best in the world.

"I call him the black Owen - he is exactly the same - and I think West Ham are very lucky as a club because they have found someone with pure talent.

"When I go back to Italy the season after next I will buy a Sky decoder and watch West Ham, and especially Jermain, every game.

"He is a special talent and we have to help him grow up in a good way so he can play for West Ham, and, I hope, England in the future.

"Then I will be supporting West Ham even more."

However, Paolo is full of praise for Glenn, who is still keen not to throw Jermain in at the deep end. He is still learning, and Paolo points out that he is still only 19 - and is already an amazing footballer.

"He is a very good finisher, but he is young. I understand the media and the supporters are not patient, and when they see something, they want to see it quickly.

"But it is not easy. Jermain will have his chance, he is only 19, he is ready to play because he is a very good lad, an intelligent boy, and an amazing footballer.

"But I think Glenn has used him very well. Sometimes he plays three games in a row from the off, sometimes he comes into a game not under pressure.

"At his age I didn't find it easy to play from the kick-off because, although everyone will cheer you for the first three or four games, they will say you are not mature enough if you miss a goal after 10 matches."

Paolo is convinced though, that his time will come, and Jermain will go on to be one of the all time greats in England.

"But very soon he will have his time to play every game. He knows that he has put the base in for the future to become one of the great players in England.

"He is intelligent and he can handle the situation, but sometimes the media is quick to put lads down. You can do it with me and it doesn't matter, but for young players it is very important, because they feel it the first time they are criticised in the newspapers.

"Everybody in the team tries to help him every day."