Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe admits doubts over England call-up
Sunday 5 March 2017 16:12, UK
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe admits doubts have crept in over whether he will receive another England call-up.
Going into Sunderland's match at home to Manchester City on Sky Sports 1 HD, Defoe has scored 14 of his side's 24 league goals this season.
And while Sunderland currently find themselves bottom of the Premier League table, Defoe's standout form could see him called up for England's matches against Germany and Lithuania later this month.
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However, having missed out on the England squad for Euro 2016 - despite finishing the 2015-16 season as the league's third-highest English goalscorer - Defoe is unsure whether he will feature for the Three Lions under Gareth Southgate.
"I feel like I should have been involved last season if it's based on merit and stats - on who's scoring goals," Defoe exclusively told Sky Sports.
"I was in the England squad for like 10 years, and probably most of that time I was at Tottenham scoring goals.
"There were times where I wasn't even playing but I was still in the squad because of the goals I scored before.
"So I don't know. I've always been a positive person, but there comes a time where you think, 'Is it really going to happen?'
"All I can do is keep playing well. The English fans - I read some nice stuff on social media and in the press too. So for me it's a nice feeling that people want me back into the squad. At the end of the day it's up to the manager so we'll see."
Sunderland have grown accustomed to relegation battles in recent years, having finished 17th, 14th, 16th and 17th respectively in the past four seasons.
And it was Defoe who fired Sunderland to safety last season as they went the last six games unbeaten.
A history of beating the drop should put Sunderland in good stead, according to Defoe, who wants his side to draw on the emotions and experience gained from last year's unlikely escape.
"We have to be realistic. If you look at the table, it's doable because it's so tight. It's important that we stick together," Defoe added.
"For the lads that have been before, just try and remember that feeling we got when we stayed up before and the form that we had in the last five games.
"We want to try and do it before that because the games are running out and we need the points. We have to remain positive because we've done it before - a few times.
"I remember people saying to me last season - 'If you score goals the club stays up' - and I was like, wow, that's a lot of pressure.
"But it's not a bad thing. It's something I've always enjoyed. It's good pressure because the rewards are big. It's a nice feeling when people say nice things about you.
"Come the end of the season, if I've scored 16 or 17 league goals and we've stayed up - it's a team effort and not just me - but the feeling I'll get from doing that it'll just be amazing and then I can enjoy my holiday. So I'm really focused on doing that. I won't let the pressure get to me so it's fine."
