While Sunderland ace Jermain Defoe is happy to have received an England recall, he did admit that he had thought that his international career was over.
Gareth Southgate opted to recall the veteran after injuries ruled out Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane as well as Daniel Sturridge. The 34-year-old last donned the jersey of the Three Lions in November 2013, but after a rich run of form for struggling Sunderland, he deservedly got a recall recently.
He said, “If I am being totally honest, I thought I would have had a chance last season, finishing the third-highest English goalscorer behind (Harry) Kane and (Jamie) Vardy.
“But it wasn’t meant to be and then I started to think: ‘You know what? Maybe it’s just not going to happen’. But I didn’t really complain or anything.”
Defoe is one of three forwards in the squad along with Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy. Considering his experience and the fact that he has scored the most goals out of the three, there is a strong chance that he will start for England.
