Defoe, a long-term fixture in David Platt’s England Under-21 set-up, will have the opportunity to stake his claim for a ticket to Euro 2004 when Eriksson’s men take on his home nation Sweden in Gothenburg on Wednesday.

Pleat, whose team lost 1-0 against Southampton at St Mary’s, insists Eriksson must give Defoe several games to prove himself in the international arena.

He said: “You can’t tell anything until a player has had the opportunity and played in the national team.

“It’s difficult with friendlies as there’s not always the passion and there’s also the problem with lots of substitutions.

“I always believe that if you want to assess a player you have to watch him not just for 90 minutes but for a number of games.

“You see players who get into the England squad and play 30 minutes here and there and then disappear.”

Defoe was Tottenham’s star man on the south coast yesterday, rifling half a dozen decent efforts goalwards but failing to find the net as his team were defeated by a magnificent Rory Delap overhead kick in the 64th minute.

But rather than criticise Defoe for his lack of potency, Pleat applauded his contribution, saying: “Defoe looked sharp and really up for it.

“He’s got a lot of ability, is very sharp and positive.

“If he can keep that, he has everything before him. It’s down to him.”

Pleat’s future at White Hart Lane has come under scrutiny in recent days following a series of claims that Claudio Ranieri is poised to take over as manager if he departs Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who sacked Glenn Hoddle in September, insists he has the man he wants lined up for the top job.

And Pleat today conceded that could mean his long association with the club is poised to come to an end.

Asked if he would be staying when the new boss arrives, he hesitated then said: “I don’t want to comment on that now because it’s a hypothetical question.

“I don’t want to be put in a position where I say something and then later somebody says, ’well, you said that then’.”

Southampton’s success renewed Spurs’ relegation worries and bolstered their own hopes of a UEFA Cup place.

Delap’s goal may have settled this end-to-end match but Saints boss Paul Sturrock also acclaimed the man alongside Delap in midfield, 19-year-old French debutant Yoann Folly.

“I watched Yoann a couple of times for Southampton reserves while I was Plymouth manager and he looked a very exciting player,” Sturrock said.

“I asked Gordon Strachan about getting him on loan but he said no.

“But I was tempted to play Yoann in my first game but I stuck with the other players. Then he came of age yesterday.

“He’s quick, strong, sees a pass and reads the game very well. He’s going to be a very exciting addition to our team.”

Southampton face relegation battlers Wolves at Molineux on Saturday while Tottenham take on second-place Chelsea at White Hart Lane.