Jol backs Defoe for World Cup

Thursday, 23, Mar 2006 09:40

Martin Jol believes Jermain Defoe will be going to Germany with England's World Cup squad.

There have been concerns for Defoe's chances of making Sven Goran Eriksson's 23 after dropping out of the Tottenham first team this season.

Jol, however, insists that Defoe has played plenty of football this year. He calculates that the speedy striker has played more minutes than his strike rival Robbie Keane.

The diminutive hitman has scored just eight times this season but so far Eriksson has continued to pick him.

Some people have suggested that the in-form Charlton striker Darren Bent deserves to be selected ahead of the Tottenham player.

The 21-year-old Bent has scored 19 goals so far in his first season in the Premier League after his transfer from Ipswich Town in the summer.

Jol told Sky Sports News: "Jermain's done wonderfully well. He's played 30 games. I'll always say if you play more than 25 games at this club you do well and we're happy with you.

"Everyone knows he was in the England team for a couple of years now, so why should he be worried.

"He's now played three out of five matches recently, so there's no problem. He's scored his goals, made the goal against Sunderland for Keane."

Eriksson will name a 26-man squad on May 8th, both Bent and Defoe are likely to make the first cut, but probably only one will travel to Germany.