Sunday 27 November 2016 11:58, UK
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe insists is still good enough to make the England squad, and does not feel his age.
The 34-year-old has 17 goals in this calendar year, helping Sunderland to survival last season under Sam Allardyce.
He hit his 150th Premier League goal last week in the 3-0 win against Hull, and the former England man insists he still gets the same buzz out of football and could still make the national squad.
Defoe told Goals on Sunday: "As a forward, if you're scoring goals, you get in the squad. It has been like that over the years if you look at the great goalscorers this country has produced, it's always about playing well, scoring goals and being fit.
"I'm not sitting there saying that I should be playing for England but if someone said to me do you think you're good enough to get into the squad, I would say yes."
Regarding his age, Defoe said: "I still feel sharp. I don't feel like I've had to change my game in any way. I understand that as players get older you may have to change your game, instead of running in behind sometimes you may have to drop short.
"I feel like I can do it, and I've carried on this season, it's good. I don't feel 34 at all. I've still got that same buzz, I wake up every morning buzzing for training, even on my day off I wake up and think: 'What am I going to do now?'
"I just can't wait to come into training. Nothing has changed since day one to be honest.
Sunderland are second from bottom of the Premier League after a poor start under new manager David Moyes, and were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
But the back-to-back wins against Bournemouth and Hull earlier this month game Defoe and his team-mates a huge boost, and the former Tottenham striker believes they are on the right road at present.
"The back-to-back wins are important. It's amazing how you win games, come into training and the whole atmosphere is different.
"The team spirit is good, it always has been, the new players have come in and gelled straight away.
"It's been a tricky start, but the back-to-back wins for us were massive. The manager is good to be honest, he's really hands-on with the players and his attention to detail is unbelievable.
"I feel like week-by-week we are improving and making the right steps."
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