Jermain is Defoe going to make England squad
Published:Roy Hodgson’s enduring appreciation of the talents of Tottenham outcast Jermain Defoe make the forward a likely addition to England’s squad for next summer’s 2014 World Cup, regardless of his future at the north London club.
And the good news for fans of the 31-year-old goalscorer is that the forward can still be backed at the rather handsome price of 2/1 to make the plane to Brazil in what would be his third consecutive tournament appearance for the Three Lions.
The former West Ham man has found his playing time severely limited under Andre Villas-Boas, but despite failing to make an impact in the Premier League, he has impressed for the Lilywhites in Europe.
To date, the forward has notched up five goals in the Europa League to put him top of the scoring charts for the competition.
More importantly, his success in Europe is likely to catch the eye of Hodgson who has something of a soft spot for the competition, having previously guided Fulham to the final while in charge of the Cottagers.
Defoe’s ability to find the net in some of Europe’s least welcoming locations will also stand him in good stead going into the finals in Brazil.
The striker showed his worth in qualifying, pitching in with three goals despite traditionally being used as back-up to the likes of England favourite Wayne Rooney.
And as the only recognised striker to find the net at England’s last World Cup in 2010, he is likely to be considered a shoo-in for a squad that could well lack the kind of experience offered by the veteran forward.
Meanwhile, injuries to Andy Carroll and Daniel Sturridge could play into his favour and the failure of rivals like Jay Rodriguez to take advantage of their England opportunity may well see Hodgson turn to the wise head of Defoe.
The Spurs forward could also cement his place in the squad with a move to another Premier League side.
Although rumours of an imminent transfer to Toronto remain on the radar, West Ham and Fulham have both expressed an interest in the player, with more game time allowing him to play his way in to Hodgson’s World Cup plans with ease.
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