Jermain Defoe on England, David Moyes and Sunderland's battle against the drop

Jermain Defoe believes he is still good enough to be in the England squad.
Jermain DefoeJermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe

Defoe is Sunderland's top scorer with seven goals this season and he netted 15 top flight goals last season to help the Black Cats stay up.

But despite his form in front of goal Defoe - who has been capped 55 times by his country - has been overlooked by England in recent seasons.

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Defoe told Goals on Sunday: "As a forward, if you're scoring goals, you get in the squad.

"It has been like that over the years if you look at the great goalscorers this country has produced, it's always about playing well, scoring goals and being fit.

"I'm not sitting there saying that I should be playing for England but if someone said to me do you think you're good enough to get into the squad, I would say yes."

Defoe is now 34 but he says age is no barrier given how fit and sharp he still is.

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He added: "I still feel sharp. I don't feel like I've had to change my game in any way.

"I understand that as players get older you may have to change your game, instead of running in behind sometimes you may have to drop short.

"I feel like I can do it, and I've carried on this season, it's good. I don't feel 34 at all.

"I've still got that same buzz, I wake up every morning buzzing for training, even on my day off I wake up and think: 'What am I going to do now?'

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"I just can't wait to come into training. Nothing has changed since day one to be honest."

Sunderland's survival hopes were handed a major boost thanks to back-to-back wins over Bournemouth and Hull City ahead of the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

And Defoe believes Sunderland are making the right steps under manager David Moyes, whose attention to detail he has described as "unbelievable".

"The back-to-back wins are important," added Defoe.

"It's amazing how you win games, come into training and the whole atmosphere is different.

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"The team spirit is good, it always has been, the new players have come in and gelled straight away.

"It's been a tricky start, but the back-to-back wins for us were massive.

"The manager is good to be honest, he's really hands-on with the players and his attention to detail is unbelievable.

"I feel like week-by-week we are improving and making the right steps."