Jermain Defoe has been left out of Fabio Capello’s first England squad – a decision which will have surprised precisely nobody. The former Tottenham striker has hardly made a start in the Premier League this season, and the Daily Mail reveal the player’s lofty international ambitions are behind his £9 million move to Portsmouth.
He said: “I haven’t been playing football so I can’t expect to be named in the England squad. I totally understand. Hopefully I will play regularly here and get myself back in there. I just want to play and get some goals.
“I can’t wait, to be honest. I haven’t been playing so I just want to get my boots on, I’m happy.”
Has Defoe still got a chance of making his mark with England or is he simply not good enough? Despite being restricted to largely substitute appearances for Spurs, he’s still managed eight goals, although he wasn’t deemed good enough to make Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad for World Cup 2006 when he was playing more first-team football. Tottenham fans – are you bothered that he’s gone to Pompey?