PREM MOVE FOR MIKKEL NEARLY DUE
Azerbaijan’s goal against Germany means that England are the only team in European qualification yet to concede. England have beaten Slovakia (1-0), Malta (2-0), Scotland (3-0) and Lithuania (2-0) and drew 0-0 with Slovenia. Jermain scored his first England goal on September 8, 2004 meaning there were 4,582 days between his first and latest international goals. But he has a long way to go to beat Stanley Matthews, whose first and last England goals were 8,043 days apart - just over 22 years. Jermain Defoe became the 22nd England player to reach 20 goals – his goal in this match took him level with Martin Peters for all-time England goals. Defoe is the sixth oldest player to score for England (34 years, 170 days), with only Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, Teddy Sheringham, Frank Lampard and Jack Charlton older. It was Defoe’s first Wembley goal for England since he hit a hat-trick against Bulgaria in September 2010.
No England player has scored more goals for the Three Lions since his debut than Jamie Vardy (6, level with Wayne Rooney).
Vardy’s goal was his first touch of the match after coming on as a substitute.
Defoe was the first Sunderland player to win an England cap since February 2012, when Frazier Campbell featured in a friendly defeat against the Netherlands.
Lithuania have lost 11 of their last 15 away games, drawing the other four; their last away win came against San Marino in September 2014.
England are the only European team yet to concede a goal in World Cup 2018 Qualifying.
The Three Lions have won their last 12 competitive matches at Wembley (scoring 38 while conceding only two) and have lost only one of their last 40 home competitive matches (W33 D6), a 3-2 defeat to Croatia in November 2007. JERMAIN DEFOE has vowed to maintain his hot streak at club level in a bid to stay in Gareth Southgate’s England plans.
The Sunderland striker hit the first of the Three Lions’ two goals in their Wembley win over Lithuania.
It keeps Southgate’s men top of Group F and on course for next summer’s Finals in Russia.
England travel to Scotland for their next World Cup qualifier on June 10.
Defoe has scored 14 goals so far this season for the Black Cats but is determined not to rest on his laurels despite a glowing tribute from Southgate.
Defoe said: “Obviously I’ve got to go back to my club and make sure we finish the season strong.
“Like I’ve always done, I’ll keep my head down and see what happens.”
Southgate revealed: “He was thrilled to be back involved in the squad. He’s enjoyed his week immensely.
“He’s been a good senior professional to have around the team, both in terms of the way he’s trained, his professionalism which has been great for the younger players to see, and his finishing in training and then today, which we expected really.” LIVERPOOL-target Mikkel Duelund hopes to impress watching Premier League clubs when he faces England’s Young Lions tonight.
The Denmark Under-21 starlet (above) is seen as his country’s next big thing and the forward’s tally of 10 goals in 13 Under-19s games broke Michael Laudrup’s old record.
He was part of the Midtjylland squad which stunned Manchester United in the Europa League last season, and is on the radar of Liverpool and other top-flight big guns.
Duelund, 19, faces Aidy Boothroyd’s Under-21s in a friendly in Randers, and he dreams of joining his hero and compatriot Christian Eriksen (left) in the Premier League one day.
“I’m only 19 and this Under-21 game against the English talents is a great test for me,” he said.
“Most of the opponents are a couple of years older than me, and playing in leagues where I want to be playing in the future.
“Christian is an inspiration playing in the Premier League, but he was 21-and-a-half years old – I’ve checked it – when he moved from Ajax to Tottenham.
“Maybe I also need another stepping stone, before being ready for the absolute top level. I have great ambitions, and dream of the big leagues. But I know that I need to be patient.”
Duelund reportedly turned down Liverpool two years ago because he felt Midtjylland was the best club for his development.
“Two years ago, it was too early for me to move abroad, since I wanted to be part of a first team – not a youth or reserve squad,” he added.
“There has been different rumours linking me to other big clubs. That’s flattering, but I keep my focus on my development.
“I’m working hard to improve all aspects of my game without forgetting the things I do best – scoring goals and setting them up for my team-mates.”