Why Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe deserves an England recall

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At 34 years young, Jermain Defoe is the definition of a seasoned professional. With a career spanning 17 years at the top of the English (and North American) game, he’s established himself as one of the finest finishers England has produced in the last 20 years. Even now he plies his trade at Premier League outfit Sunderland, albeit a Black Cats side that are enduring another relegation battle at the bottom end of the table. With that said, without the goals of Jermain Defoe the team would be in dire straits. With 14 goals already this term, the joint highest Englishman on the list, does the veteran deserve to receive an England call-up once again?

Of course, Defoe has already played for the England first team, 55 times, in fact, he’s worn the Three Lions jersey. He hasn’t made an appearance for the national side since 2013 however, a 2-0 defeat to Chile. Not a game that will be fondly remembered by Defoe (or spectators), but with 19 goals for England at senior level he certainly has more than enough cherished moments. Those 19 strikes include a winner against Slovenia in the 2010 World Cup, 2 goals to secure a 2-2 draw away against the Netherlands, and a hat trick versus Bulgaria at Wembley. Not that Defoe is a stranger to scoring three times in a match with four hat-tricks to his name in the Premier League; to help put that achievement into perspective that’s the same amount as Dwight Yorke, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Les Ferdinand. The impressive goal scoring statistics are there for everyone to see, but even as his career reaches its latter stages the goals just won’t stop.

Defoe joined Sunderland in January 2015 after his spell at Major League Soccer side Toronto FC ended after only 11 months, despite having a four-year contract. Many questioned Defoe’s decision to move to the MLS, a career choice that carries connotations of ‘winding down towards retirement’, especially for a player of the age and calibre of the Englishman. Very few, however, then make a return back to the more competitive European leagues. People were quick to doubt whether Defoe would be as prolific for Sunderland; his prime appeared to be behind him. Yet on his home debut, he opened his account in a 2-0 win against Burnley. This was soon followed up with a goal against Swansea City before Defoe added another memorable moment to his ever-growing list.

The Tyne-Wear Derby between Sunderland and Newcastle United is often a tense, heated affair. When the two sides met in April 2015, Sunderland were in the thick of a relegation scrap down the bottom of the table, although hadn’t been beaten by their arch rivals since August 2011. With an uneventful and uninspiring first half reaching its climax, Defoe pounced onto a Steven Fletcher flick-on before unleashing an unstoppable volley past the hapless Tim Krul. It sent the home fans at The Stadium of Light into a frenzy, with the emotion of scoring the goal clearly getting the better of Defoe. It was proof to critics, who had questioned his hunger and attitude after his move to Toronto FC, that his love for the game was still stronger than ever.

He finished the 2014/15 season with 4 Sunderland goals, but his best goal scoring form was yet to come. The following 2015/16 season saw Jermain Defoe score 18 goals in all competitions. He helped steer his side narrowly away from relegation; without his crucial goals, The Black Cats would have certainly been playing Championship football. It wasn’t just his goals that were earning him plaudits, though. Defoe has never had a reputation for his high defensive work rate, however, since arriving in the North East he appears to be a changed man. He has adapted his style of play for big games by contributing with his defensive abilities. Sunderland have always lingered down the lower end of the table during Defoe’s time at the club, with creating chances one of their biggest struggles. For a guy of Jermain Defoe’s calibre, he doesn’t have the number of chances in a game that he would ideally have. As a result, he has learned to help out at the back. Despite this newfound defensive aspect of his game and the lack of service he ultimately receives, it really says a lot about the quality he possesses that Defoe has scored 33 goals in 75 games for Sunderland.

Not only has Jermain Defoe improved his all-round game, but the goal scoring exploits show no sign of slowing down. He continues to perform in the biggest league of them all, and as a result, surely deserves an England call up.

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