Sunderland fans react after Jermain Defoe crowned Player of the Year

Jermain Defoe has been crowned Sunderland's Player of the Year - and fans were quick to praise the 16-goal top scorer.

Defoe pipped January signing Jan Kirchhoff to the top prize at the annual Sunderland Supporters Association’s awards night, with Duncan Watmore collecting the Young Player of the Year title.

England international Defoe’s 16 goal haul in all competitions this season - 13 of which have come in the Premier League - is the best tally from a Sunderland player since Darren Bent in 2009-10

Sunderland fans tweeted their congratulations:

Linz ‎@Linz1100 Well done Defoe on getting player of the year! Well deserved

Wise Men Say Podcast ‎@WiseMenSayPod : Defoe awarded supporters association player of the year, Watmore winning young player. Don't think anyone can argue with that, can they?

Michael Laidler ‎@SAFC_Laids Defoe scoring 13 goals in this team is a testament to his abilities as a striker. Class act.

Michael Noble ‎@MichaelNoble1 : Defoe had to get player of the year didn't he, baller

Anth ‎@1973anth03: Don't know where we'd be without Jermain Defoe's goals this season mind, been absolutely vital. Well deserved POTY.

Safc-Fans ‎@SafcFans : SAFC player of the year is Defoe. No surprise and no dispute. His goals have been so crucial in giving us a fighting chance.

Jonathan Carling @JonathanCarling: Well deserved @IAmJermainDefoe. Keep banging them in! #safc #defoe

Chris Young @YoungSunEcho: Defoe on POTY prize “This award is a special one because it obviously comes from the fans. It means a lot to me.”

Macca @SunderlandAFC11: We need him to keep scoring.

Nick Barnes @Tweed_Barnesy: SAFC supporters' player of the year @IAmJermainDefoe #safc