The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Marked man who won’t compromise
opening the scoring in the Three Lions' 2-0 win against Lithuania.
That was the latest instalment in a remarkable resurgence for a player whose career appeared to be winding down when he swapped Tottenham for Toronto in 2014.
Since returning to the Premier League with Sunderland he has been one of the division's most reliable scorers, with 14 goals this season despite the Black Cats' perilous position at the bottom of the table.
Defoe has long been teetotal, is an enthusiastic advocate of cryotherapy treatment, practises yoga and his latest attempt to fend off Father Time involves cutting animal products from his diet.
“I have a better understanding of my body now," he said after netting to end await of four yearsandfour days between international goals. “Everyone wants to feel fresh in the game, there's no better feeling. So I'm just making sure I'm doing the right things – cryotherapy, massage, eating the right things . . . trying to turn vegan.
“That's a funny one because when I go to my Mum's she's got every kind of meat you can imagine out on the table.
“It was my girlfriend's idea. She said to me, ‘You've got todoit'andshe's always showing me these documentaries and that. It's always nice to have someone around you to who helps you and drives you.”