Tim Sherwood "grateful" to have Jermain Defoe until February

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Tim Sherwood has insisted that striker Jermain Defoe can still help his side until he makes his exit from the club.

Defoe has agreed to join MLS club Toronto but he won't begin training in Canada until the end of February, and Sherwood is "grateful" to retain the services of the England international for the next seven weeks.

The 44-year-old told reporters: "We are grateful to have Jermain until the end of February because he will undoubtedly help us during that time with the games that we have.

"It's an opportunity that Jermain wanted to take up and really wanted to do, and the club have come to an agreement with Toronto."

Defoe has scored 142 goals in 361 appearances during two spells at White Hart Lane.