Spurs have been in the spotlight since Ledley King's arrest last week, with Defoe upset about photos of him appearing after he helped judge the Miss World competition in London.

Boss Harry Redknapp has talked about banning his players from nightclubs but Defoe is a teetotaller and he insists his Mum keeps him on the straight and narrow anyway.

"Especially coming back from injury, you have to be professional," Defoe said. "My Mum would knock me out anyway!

"If you think about it, if I was one of those people drinking every week I don't think I'll be able to perform how I perform."

Defoe made the perfect response to any doubts over his professionalism when he scored the opener against Manchester City, with Robbie Keane scoring the winner from the penalty spot after Valeri Bojinov had levelled.

"I wasn't happy," Defoe said. "It's crazy when you pick up the papers and you read something that is so far from the truth, like you're in a nightclub 48 hours before a game.

"The thing is I've never had a problem. In the time I've been playing football there has never been anything about me drinking.

"I don't see why all of a sudden people say I'm drinking. It's unbelievable. I went to an event on Tuesday, then I was with my family and I went home. We had a day off Wednesday and I performed on Saturday."

Defoe was eager to explain that Spurs is not a club of drinkers.

"It's so far from the truth," he said.

"It's difficult for the boys when you pick up the papers and read things. Most of the time people believe what they read.

"It's unbelievable because we have a great bunch of lads and everyone is so professional. We work hard in training, it's just unbelievable. Sometimes it's not fair when you read things that aren't true."

Defoe agrees with Redknapp that there is no place for heavy drinking at the top level.

"At the end of the day we have a good manager and he wants us to do well," Defoe said.

"He'll do all he can. Next season is a massive year for the football club. Everyone has to be sharp and fit.

"All managers are the same, they will all say that. What manager wants his players drinking?

"The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world. At this level you have to be fit and if you aren't fit you'll get found out.

"I think if you look at the stats of our team, we are up there with the best. We have legs in the team and everyone works hard. If we were doing that, there is no way we could perform the way we perform."

Defoe back-heeled the opener against City then was involved in a bizarre incident on the stroke of half-time when he clash with assistant referee Trevor Massey.

Nedum Onuoha had challenged Defoe on the touchline and the England striker then flicked out when he thought his opponent was challenging - but it was Massey.

Massey collapsed in a heap and needed treatment before being replaced at the interval.

"With my momentum, I turned around and I thought the ball was still in play," Defoe said.

"I think he'll be all right.

"I thought I touched him a little bit. He's gone over holding his thigh. I asked what was wrong and he said it was his knee. He had to come off but we had a laugh afterwards."