This can’t be true about Jermain Defoe… can it?

There’s little doubt this season Jermain Defoe has become even more than the ‘extremely useful’ backup striker he was last campaign.

Steven Gerrard admitted neither he nor Alfredo Morelos were outright number one pick, and the English legend’s goal count was a major reason as to why he was no longer just a deputy to the Colombian.

And looking deeper into Defoe’s stats this term give some indication of just how frighteningly potent this ex-Spurs striker has been for Rangers, even at the ripe old age of 36.

Jermain Defoe has played 511 minutes of football this season for Rangers in all competitions, and scored a sweltering 8 goals in that time (just over five full matches).

That breaks down to a goal every 63 minutes of football, and for a striker who’s only started 5 of the 14 matches he’s been involved in that’s a pretty stunning statistic.

It makes Defoe one of Steven Gerrard’s best, most astute and shrewd acquisitions – sure, how bad can a 50+ cap ex-England international be?

Well, better players than Defoe have struggled in Scotland – he just hasn’t – the diminutive hitman has been on fire this season, and his goals to minutes ratio shows he’s producing time and time again, and has been excellent value for money.

We can only be glad we have a striker of this quality to push Alfredo Morelos even more.