Defoe goes if Cats drop
JERMAIN DEFOE will leave Sunderland if they are relegated.
The rock-bottom Black Cats are seven points from safety, despite the striker’s 14 goals this season.
His red-hot form has earned him a recall to the England squad from boss Gareth Southgate, having not played for his country since November 2013.
However, Defoe admits that if he is to have any chance of going to the 2018 World Cup he has to be playing in the Premier League.
The hitman missed out on Roy Hodgson’s squad for the last World Cup in Brazil as he was plying his trade in the MLS with Toronto.
Realistic
The 34-year-old said: “When I missed out on the last World Cup squad, it was hard news to accept but you have to be realistic.
“The boys I was competing against were playing in the Premier League and Europe and that was probably why I missed out.
“So I would say so, yes, I would probably need to be playing in the Premier League.”
Sunderland’s nightmare season hit a new low at the weekend after goalkeeper Jordan Pickford finished their bore draw with Burnley as his side’s top passer.
The England Under-21 star made 48 passes and also had the most touches of the ball (59) in another dull game for David Moyes’ men.