Defoe Praises Mikey Moore's Impact Following Old Firm Victory
Former Rangers forward Jermain Defoe has lauded the contributions of "special" Mikey Moore after the Tottenham loanee scored during the Ibrox side's impressive Old Firm victory.
Moore, who has made 24 appearances since joining Rangers on a season-long loan from Spurs, delivered a standout performance by netting the third goal in a 3-1 triumph at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Defoe played a pivotal role in encouraging the 18-year-old midfielder to move north, having received a call from Moore seeking advice over the summer.
"What a story that is," remarked Defoe, who previously coached Moore in the Spurs academy. "After I finished playing, I spent two years coaching the under-18s. I first noticed him when he was about 16. From the moment I saw him in training, I recognized that this kid had something special. I made it a point to work with him as much as I could.
"He consistently stood out during our under-18 matches, often outshining his opponents. When he called me this summer to say he had a chance to join Rangers, I told him he had to go. I encouraged him to experience what I had there, assuring him he would love it."
"Seeing him score in this match is amazing, and I’ll text him soon. It’s a special moment for him; he must be thrilled as he’s just a young player who loves football. He'll be ecstatic after this."
Following a challenging start to the season under Russell Martin, Rangers are now level on points with Celtic. Both teams trail Hearts by six points, but under the new management of Danny Rohl, the Ibrox club has demonstrated a level of consistency that has reestablished them as contenders for the title.
During his three-year tenure at Ibrox, Defoe helped secure the Scottish Premiership title under manager Steven Gerrard, and he believes the recent Old Firm result is "huge" for his former team.
"This win is massive, especially considering both clubs have faced their difficulties," he stated. "Now they are level on points. The manner in which Rangers won this match is significant, not just for the players but for everyone associated with the football club and the fans. It’s one of the biggest fixtures in world football."
This sentiment was echoed by Ibrox defender John Souttar, who shared his thoughts with Rangers TV: "We have experienced players in the squad who need to support the younger lads. The atmosphere can be daunting for some, but we didn’t let it affect us today. Everyone stepped up, and our aggression off the ball was crucial.
"We possess momentum, athleticism, speed, and power, and when we apply pressure and press high, we give ourselves a great chance to win, which we did today."
Souttar added, "The supporters were incredible. Some of my family were in attendance, and it was a remarkable experience. This is a special moment for all of us here, but we aim to create more of these in the future. We must build on this, maintain our momentum, and adhere to the manager's instructions to see where it takes us."