Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has challenged Jermain Defoe to finish this season as top scorer in the Barclays Premier League.

Defoe will return from a three-match ban to lead the line for Spurs in their game against Sunderland.

Prior to his suspension, the 27-year-old had been in good goalscoring form, netting six times as Redknapp's men helped set the pace at the top end of the league.

Having seen his team fail to score in defeats to Stoke and Arsenal in their last two league outings, Redknapp will be delighted to welcome back the England striker, who should slot straight back into the starting XI.

"He has looked sharp, he's looked like every game he is going to score, so hopefully he can come out and get back scoring goals," Redknapp said.

"There's no reason he can't be leading goalscorer in the Premier League. He's got as good a chance as anybody. We make lots of chances at this club so if he continues to stick them away he'll have an opportunity."

Redknapp labelled Defoe as the best predator in the top flight, adding: "He's a box player; he doesn't get that much involved in the build-up play.

"But when it comes into the box, his finishing and his quickness puts him right up there with the best."

While Defoe is clearly a favourite of Redknapp, Darren Bent never enjoyed such a position during his time at White Hart Lane.

Bent spent two years at Spurs but was never first choice and was eventually sold to Sunderland in the summer for an initial fee of £10million.

The 25-year-old launched an infamous Twitter rant at the Tottenham board as he sought a move to the Black Cats.

Equally memorable was Redknapp's blast at Bent following the striker's miss late on in Spurs' 1-1 draw against Portsmouth in January this year.

Redknapp claimed his "missus could have scored that" and Bent has since revealed he never felt he had the confidence of his former boss.

Redknapp insists it was never his desire to humiliate Bent that day, adding: "It wasn't just because it was Darren Bent. It could have been anyone.

"There were probably four million blokes sitting watching TV that night and when they saw that thought 'Cor blimey, my woman would have scored that'.

"But after that he played the League Cup final. I started him up front and I played him. I have no problem with Darren Bent."

Bent knew his time was up at Spurs when Redknapp signed Peter Crouch in July and completed his move to Wearside a month later.

Both strikers are vying to nail down a place in England's squad for next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, and Redknapp believes that battle will run and run.

"The striking positions are wide open. (Wayne) Rooney plus who else?" Redknapp added.

"I can certainly see Crouch going because he's different. He gives you an option that nobody else gives you when things are tight and, against foreign defences, if you want to go over the top.

"He can change the game for you. He's a must to have in your squad.

"Then you've got Defoe in terrific form. You've got Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole and Darren Bent, who's in there with a chance."