JAMIE SLABBER acknowledges the impact a spell in League One had on Jermain Defoe's career and he would love nothing more than to follow the same route to stardom as his Tottenham Hotspur colleague.

The 20-year-old, pictured, netted his first goals in a Town shirt yesterday as the reserves drew 3-3 with Cheltenham at the County Ground.

He displayed both aerial presence and some impressive footwork.

Still, he admits that working each day with the likes of Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Fredi Kanoute certainly helps.

He said: "You just learn so much training with those players.

"It's great to work with them and I just hope I can follow in their footsteps."

In Defoe's case, now the darling of the White Hart Lane faithful, his grounding came during a prolific loan spell at AFC Bournemouth during the 2000-1 campaign.

He netted 18 league goals for the Cherries and was the talk of the division before returning to then employers West Ham United.

Slabber said: "Jermain's gone on to be a top striker for England after that.

"I suppose I just have to keep things crossed."

Slabber may admire Defoe, Keane and Kanoute but they also pose a formidable barrier to his own hopes of stardom at White Hart Lane.

He isn't ruling out winning another contract under Martin Jol but he is streetwise enough to realise that any deal in the professional ranks is something not to be sniffed at.

He has just less than four months in Wiltshire to secure his future.

He said: "There's always people watching the games.

"Who knows what you might be offered. It's the last year of my contract at Spurs. If Swindon offered me something I'd be glad."

Slabber's goals will give manager Andy King a healthy selection headache for Saturday's trip to Brentford.

Rory Fallon enjoyed an encouraging display against Blackpool and Slabber's two goals will ensure the necessary pressure is on him to repeat the showing.

Among the spectators at yesterday's reserve encounter, as well as King and assistant Mike Walsh, were Matt Hewlett, David Duke and Sean O'Hanlon.

Physio Dick Mackey said: "I think David Duke should be okay, it's just bruising on his hip.

"In the cases of Matt Hewlett and Sean O'Hanlon and I'm tentatively optimistic that they will train on Thursday.

"Sammy Igoe has a sore ankle after receiving a whack during training on Friday and then in the same spot during the Blackpool game.

"Thankfully, an X-ray has shown no serious damage."