Sam Allardyce "delighted" for Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe of Sunderland leaves the pitch with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick during the Capital One Cup Second Round match between Sunderland and Exeter City at Stadium of Light on August 25, 2015 in Sunderland, England.
© Getty Images
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce reveals his 'delight' after veteran striker Jermain Defoe's call-up to the England squad.

Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce has said that he is "delighted" for Jermain Defoe after the veteran striker was called up to the England squad.

The 34-year-old was named in Gareth Southgate's squad for games against Germany and Lithuania next week following his exploits for Palace's relegation rivals Sunderland this term, which has seen him score 14 goals in 27 appearances.

While it was good news for Defoe, former Black Cats manager Allardyce also admitted to being "disappointed" for Palace winger Andros Townsend, who missed the cut.

"I'm disappointed for Andros because I think he's played the best he's played since he's been at Palace," Allardyce told reporters this afternoon. "Especially the special goal he scored a couple of weeks ago, showing the form he showed to get into the England squad previously.

"I'm delighted for Jermain Defoe because the man gets you goals and he'll get you goals at any levels. He's such a good professional, he can play at any level."

Defoe's call-up came more than three years after his last cap for the Three Lions.

'Big' Sam Allardyce basks in the Mackem glory of having led Sunderland to survival in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Everton, following in the footsteps of messrs Di Canio, Poyet and Advocaat
Read Next:
Allardyce heaps praise on Sakho, Tomkins
>



You May Like
Recomended from Sports Mole
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea28223359213869
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs28178355213459
3Manchester CityMan City28176554302457
4Liverpool29168561362556
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd271410342231952
6Arsenal27155756342250
7Everton29148751302150
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom29127103938143
9Stoke CityStoke2999113342-936
10Southampton2796123336-333
11Bournemouth2996144254-1233
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2996144052-1233
13Burnley2995153142-1132
14Watford2887133348-1531
15Leicester CityLeicester2886143347-1430
16Crystal Palace2884163646-1028
17Swansea CitySwansea2983183663-2727
18Hull City2966172658-3224
19Middlesbrough28410142033-1322
20Sunderland2855182450-2620
LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand