Sunderland’s Defoe not expecting England call-up

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe believes he may never get another England call-up, even if he finishes this season as the Premier League’s top scorer.

The 34-year-old frontman has netted eight league goals so far this campaign, more than any other English striker, behind Chelsea’s Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal, both on 11, and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero on 10.

Only Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and Aguero have scored more times in 2016 than Defoe, who last played for the national team as a second-half substitute against Chile in 2013.

He has won 55 caps for England, scoring 19 goals, his last being a brace against San Marino, also in 2013.

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

And the striker said he has not heard from Gareth Southgate, who was confirmed as permanent England manager this week.

“Whatever I do, I never give up,” Defoe said. “People come up to me and say ‘why are you not in the England squad?’ and I never know what to say.

“When I was in the England squad, I was in on merit, I was scoring goals and playing well.

“It’s not that I’ve given up, but it gets to a point when I think it almost doesn’t matter what I do.

“Even if I get the golden boot I don’t think I’d get called up.”