Defoe's England frustration
Jermain Defoe admits not being given a run in the England side has been a 'bit frustrating'.
Jermain Defoe admits not being given a run in the England side has been a 'bit frustrating'.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker is expected to miss out to Andy Johnson to be Wayne Rooney's partner against Israel on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1.
The likely snub is a source of frustration for Defoe, who was left out of England's World Cup squad in favour of the untried teenager Theo Walcott.
Defoe, who scored twice against Andorra in England's opening Euro 2008 qualifier, concedes he is questioning what more he can do to prove to Steve McClaren he deserves a regular starting role.
"The England situation is a bit frustrating, especially when you really think you deserve a chance and don't get it," Defoe told Hotspur, the official Spurs magazine.
"That's when you start to think 'What else can I do?' But I'm going to keep my head down, work hard and, hopefully, the goals will keep going in for me.
"I have to make sure that when I do get my chance I'll be ready."
The striker's international highlight was a goal against Poland in a World Cup qualifier in 2004 and he is eager to build on that moment.
He added: "I'm determined to get into the England team and score goals for my country.
"The highlight of my career so far was scoring against Poland in my first full international game.
"Not just because I'd scored for England, but because it came in such a massive World Cup qualifier just after we'd dropped points in the previous game in Austria.
"To start a game like that was so special for me and to score as well made it even better."
