DEFOE JOINS ELITE SAFC GROUP
Jermain Defoe joined a select band of Sunderland players who have been capped by England while at the club when he took to the field against Lithuania.
Defoe’s appearance meant he became the first man to play for the Three Lions while at Sunderland since Fraizer Campbell five years ago.
Here is a full list of the 15 players capped by England during their time on Wearside since the end of World War 2.
Jermain Defoe One cap, one goal for the veteran, four years on after he last appeared for his country. More to come, hopefully.
Fraizer Campbell Came off the bench for the last 10 minutes of a 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands at Wembley in February 2012 for his lone international appearance. Danny Welbeck Made one appearance for England while on loan at Sunderland, against Ghana on March 29, 2011.
Jordan Henderson Made his England debut on November 17, 2010 against France. Just one appearance while at Sunderland but has since captained his country after joining Liverpool.
Darren Bent Played three times for England during his spell on Wearside, scoring against Switzerland in the last of them during a 3-1 Euro 2012 qualifying win on September 7, 2010.
Gavin McCann Played in Sven Goran Eriksson’s first game in charge of England, coming on as a halftime substitute for Paul Scholes in a 3-0 win against Spain on February 28, 2001. Never played again.
Kevin Phillips Eight caps while at Sunderland, but no goals for Super Kev. Many feel the former European Golden Boot winner should have been given more of a chance.
Michael Gray Three England caps for the left-back under Kevin Keegan, starting just once in his last appearance, a Euro 2000 qualifier against Bulgaria.
Nick Pickering Bobby Robson inherited a controversial ‘Down Under’ tour and picked a largely ‘B’ squad, of which left-back Pickering was one. His one and only cap came in a 1-1 draw against Australia on June 19, 1983. Tony Towers Played three, won three under Don Revie for the midfielder including victories over Wales, Northern Ireland and, finally, Italy in the New York’s Yankee Stadium on May 28, 1976.
Dave Watson Won 14 England caps while at Sunderland, a club record. Part of the 1973 FA Cup-winning team, the centre-half
went on to play 65 times in total for his country having left Wearside in 1975.
Stan Anderson
Captained Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough and won two full caps for England while at Roker Park, the last on April 14, 1962 in a 2-0 defeat against Scotland at Hampden Park.
Colin Grainger The talented outside left made just one appearance for England while with Sunderland, against Scotland on April 6, 1957. Seven caps in total.
Willie Watson
Four caps for the all-round sportsman, including when England came to Roker Park on November 15, 1950, beating Wales 4-2. Was an unused member of the 1950 World Cup squad. Also made 23 Test appearances for England’s cricket team while still at SAFC, and won the Ashes in 1953.
Len Shackleton
The Crown Prince of Soccer disgracefully won just five caps, scoring once with a sensational chip against world champions West Germany on December 1, 1954. He always fell foul of the establishment, never conforming through his maverick style. Never played for England again.