JERMAIN Defoe admits he will be “forever grateful” to Harry Redknapp for shaping his career – but says he is desperate to dump his mentor out of the Carabao Cup.

Ex-Cherries boss Redknapp plucked Defoe from Charlton as a 16-year-old and put him on the road to stardom at West Ham, starting with an explosive loan spell at Dean Court.

The striker, who made his league debut and hit 19 goals for Cherries during a memorable stay in 2000-01, also played under Redknapp at Portsmouth and Tottenham.

Defoe will tomorrow come face to face with Redknapp when Cherries visit Birmingham in the second round of the rebranded League Cup (7.45pm).

Cherries boss Eddie Howe has confirmed the 34-year-old frontman – a League Cup winner with Spurs in 2008 – will be in his starting line-up at St Andrew’s.

“I’ll score a hat-trick!” predicted a confident Defoe, ahead of his first start for Cherries following his free transfer move from Sunderland in the summer.

“I remember scoring one for Tottenham against Southampton at White Hart Lane when Harry was the manager at Southampton.

“He gave me a look after the game and I said to him “well, H, you gave me the opportunity from day one so it’s your own fault!”

Defoe added: “Harry was the one who gave me the confidence from such a young age and I will be forever grateful to him for that.

“In every sport, you always have one person who you think was the one who believed in you from a young age. For me, it was Harry.

“When I was 16, I walked into West Ham and it was almost like he was thinking ‘just get him in the first team as quickly as possible’.

“Even when I came here on loan, he used to come to all the home games and you don’t really get that now. Clubs keep an eye on their players when they are on loan but don’t go to watch them so much.

“Harry always used to watch to keep tabs on my development. Then, every time he went to a new club, he would try to sign me and, nine times out of 10, it would happen.

“I am looking forward to playing against Harry. We need to win and I want to score. After the game, I will wish him the best and, hopefully, he can get the signings he needs and Birmingham can have a good season.”

Defoe has come off the bench in Cherries’ first two Premier League games and admits he is itching for a start: “Everyone wants to play and I think the manager knows I am ready.

“This is a great opportunity for me and I need to take it.

“I missed a few pre-season games and came back late because of the internationals.

“I am just getting a feel for things and seeing how the lads play. It is probably good sometimes to just sit back and watch what is required.

“It is good that the cup game has come around so quickly because it will hopefully give me an opportunity to play 90 minutes and get my fitness.

“I feel sharp though. I have worked hard and worked hard in pre-season. I have always said you get your fitness in the games though.”