Harry Redknapp today warned Jermain Defoe that another act of petulance this season could cost him a place in England's World Cup squad.
Defoe returns to action for Tottenham against Sunderland tomorrow after completing a three-match suspension, imposed for his red card for stamping on Aaron Mokoena during a 2-1 win against his former club Portsmouth on 17 October.
Redknapp revealed he had spoken to Defoe again about the need to stay calm on the pitch, and believes England boss Fabio Capello will demand greater self-discipline from Tottenham's top scorer.
"It's no good for us or him if he does things like that," said Redknapp, whose side are aiming to return to winning ways after successive Premier League defeats by Stoke and Arsenal.
"I'm sure even the England manager is looking at it and thinking Jermain can't get that way. He was getting stick at Portsmouth and it got to him, but he can't afford to do it again.
"You always need a player like him. He's a goalscorer, he's sharp, he looked in great form, and then he got that suspension. He would have scored had he been available for the Stoke game."
Defoe's return to White Hart Lane last January pushed Darren Bent closer to the exit door, with the forward moving to Sunderland during the summer for a fee which could rise to £16million - but not before an embarrassing rant at Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on Twitter.
Bent has scored eight goals for his new club and Redknapp said: "He will want to come back here and show everyone what he can do. We need to be ready for that."
