Defoe’s England hopes will drop if the Cats go down

SOUTHGATE FIRES A WARNING OVER HITMAN’S CAP CHANCES

JERMAIN Defoe could be in line for a World Cup place next year – but only if he is still banging in the goals in the Premier League, according to England boss Gareth Southgate.

Defoe has scored 29 top-flight goals for Sunderland since the beginning of last season and was rewarded with an England recall more than three years after his last outing for the Three Lions.

The move paid off as he scored the opening goal in Sunday’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania at Wembley and Southgate has now opened the door for Defoe to earn a place in the squad for next summer’s tournament in Russia – by which time the striker will be 35.

However, as Defoe had suggested earlier this week, his England career is only likely to go into extra time if he is playing in the Premier League next season.

That means his future on Wearside will almost certainly hinge on whether the Black Cats can defy the odds and retain Premier League status once more.

“I think we have to look every time we get together as to who is in form,” said Southgate when asked if Defoe had a realistic chance of playing at the World Cup.

“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, we have never been able to field or pick a full cohort, so it is really important we are able to call upon the likes of Jermain and for him to have the impact he had in a game like this one.

“If he is scoring goals in the Premier League and playing as well as he has this season then there is no reason why he could not.”

Defoe scored midway through the first half against Lithuania, taking his international goals tally to 20 on his 56th outing for his country, and was named man of the match before being replaced by Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy – who scored the second goal – on the hour mark.

Defoe’s strike came four years after he last found the net for the Three Lions, scoring twice in an 8-0 World Cup qualifying win over San Marino in Serravalle in March 2013.

Southgate added “It was a great moment for him.

“He was thrilled to be back involved in the squad, I think he has enjoyed his week immensely.

“He has been a good senior professional to have around the team, both in terms of the way he has trained, his professionalism, which has been great for some of the younger players to see, and his finishing in training and then in the match, which we expected really.

“I would have put my house on him scoring at some stage so I think he has had a really positive impact on everybody.”