By Edd Paul – @Edd93Paul
Age is just a number, just like the frankly ridiculous ones Jermain Defoe has been putting up for Sunderland – and now the striker has earned himself an England recall at the age of 34.
Defoe, one of the most natural goalscorers of his generation, will be in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the games against Germany and Lithuania later this month. He has 55 caps, his last being a friendly against Chile in November 2013.
Thanks to everyone for your messages! Playing for @England has been my dream since day one so to be back in the squad is so special for me.
— Jermain Defoe (@IAmJermainDefoe) March 16, 2017
It’s also special for my family and I feel I deserve this because I’ve always dedicated myself to the game. I’m really looking forward to…
— Jermain Defoe (@IAmJermainDefoe) March 16, 2017
Meeting up with the squad and seeing all the boys. This time around it’ll be strange being one of the older lads, but I can’t wait! BUZZING!
— Jermain Defoe (@IAmJermainDefoe) March 16, 2017
Defoe’s call-up is no surprise; the Sunderland striker’s form over the last two seasons has been imperious. His 15 strikes in 2015/16 pretty much kept the Black Cats afloat during another Premier League relegation scrap, while watching Defoe bang in 14 goals already this campaign harks back to his goalscoring pomp with Tottenham Hotspur in the mid-noughties.
Harry Kane is the only Englishman with more Premier League goals (19) than the Black Cats’ hitman in 2016/17, and it’s Kane’s absence through injury that most likely mean Defoe will be leading the line once again for England this month.
Here is the full England squad for the friendly in Germany on the 22nd and the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley on the 26th:
Here it is – the #ThreeLions squad for this month’s games against ???????? and ????????! pic.twitter.com/CpSFOmRwyQ
— England (@England) March 16, 2017
