DEF IN PARADISE
Dream comeback puts Jermain on track for World Cup
GARETH SOUTHGATE opened the door for Jermain Defoe to go to next summer’s World Cup after his goalscoring return to the England team.
The Sunderland striker, 34, helped see off Lithuania and tighten England’s grip on Group F with his first international goal for four years. Asked if Defoe would be in his thinking if the Three Lions qualify, Southgate said: “If he scores like he is in the Premier League, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be.
“I would have put my house on him scoring at some stage today. He’s had a really positive impact on everybody. We’ve selected him on form.
“We have to look every time we get together as to who is in form. I don’t know if we can have a distinct pecking
order because players who are playing well deserve the opportunity.
“If we are going to be successful we have to have that competition for places. The reality is we will always lose players to injury.
“So it’s important we can call upon the likes of Jermain and he can have the impact he does like he did.
“I can’t constrain myself on selection entirely, but I know ideally what I’d like to have. His performances and goalscoring form have counted for him.”
Defoe, scorer of 14 goals this season for Sunderland, last netted for England against San Marino in March 2013. He said: “It’s good to be back. Just to win the game was important.
“It’s hard to put it in words what it feels like to be back.
“You can imagine how I felt doing that having done it with my club as well.”
Defoe had been a shock starter ahead of Leicester’s Jamie Vardy. But he took just 21 minutes to get back on to the scoresheet.
Vardy came off the bench to add a second from Adam Lallana’s deft flick.
The Foxes striker said: “I think the goal was my first touch. I just finished off a good move. The manager wanted me to break the lines, force them back and open up the channels.”
Before the game a minute’s silence was observed for the victims of last week’s London attacks.