Sam Allardyce delighted to see Jermain Defoe recalled to the England squad
Friday 17 March 2017 12:02, UK
Sam Allardyce says he is "delighted" to see Jermain Defoe recalled to the England squad and believes he can still play at the highest level.
The Crystal Palace boss managed Defoe at Sunderland last season where his 15 Premier League goals helped the club to preserve their top-flight status, but Allardyce did not select the striker for his one and only international squad as England boss against Slovakia in September 2016.
Defoe admitted he thought his international career was over after going four years without representing his country, but his 14 Premier League this season prompted Gareth Southgate to hand the 34-year-old a recall.
"I'm delighted for Jermain Defoe because if you want goals, the man gets you goals and he'll get you goals at any level," Allardyce said. "He's such a good professional in terms of how he has looked after himself over the years and he can still play at the highest level.
"There are not many England players to choose from in the Premier League to start with. English players are becoming more of a rarity. Harry Kane is injured and he [Southgate] thinks that Jermain Defoe will be the answer to fill in for Harry Kane.
"I did consider Jermain when I was with England and he scored all the goals again this year in a struggling side. I think if you want goals Jermain Defoe will get you goals.
"He's fit enough to play and it doesn't matter about his age. It's like the old saying 'if you're good enough you're old enough'. Well, if you're fit enough you're good enough, at 34."
While Allardyce is delighted for Defoe, he admitted he was disappointed there was no call-up for Andros Townsend to the squad to play Germany and Lithuania.
"I'm disappointed for Andros because I think he's played the best he's played since he's been at Crystal Palace, especially the special goal he scored a couple of weeks ago, showing that he is getting back to the form that made him an England regular a few years ago," he said.
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