Josh Maja reveals advice ex-Sunderland and Rangers striker Jermain Defoe gave him

Defoe was a big admirer of Maja, who now plays for Bordeaux, as he came through the ranks at Sunderland and would regularly train with the first team at the Academy of Light.

The 21-year-old has been reflecting on his time at Sunderland and the help and guidance offered by the senior players, in particular former England striker Defoe, who now plays for Rangers.

Standards, he said, were high and it helped bring his game on, Maja known for his clinical finishing.

Speaking to YouTube channel Touchline Fracas, Maja said: “The senior players were great, in the training sessions there was always that pressure to perform and to keep the high standards.

“Going in there, Jermain Defoe was probably one of my biggest admirers because I think he just liked the fact that I was good at finishing.

“He liked me a lot and was able to give me advice on different tips, different ways of finishing, disguising keepers, disguising defenders, short back lift, different techniques and it was a good time because Sunderland were doing well, I was learning and I was getting experience and I was enjoying my time.

“There were a few, I’d say Defoe just because small sided games, he was the go to guy. If you had him in your team, you were likely to win.

“So I’d say him but there were a lot of quality players because there was Wahbi Khazri, there was Patrick van Aanholt, there was Jan Kirchoff, a lot of talented players, so it was obviously a blessing to be able to play with them consistently.”

Maja scored 16 goals for Sunderland before he left Wearside last January having rejected the chance of a new deal on Wearside.

His exit proved a huge blow for the Black Cats’ automatic promotion hopes with replacement Will Grigg failing to hit the same heights.

Sunderland have a 10 per cent sell-on clause.