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?England and Liverpool legend John Barnes has criticised Jermain Defoe’s inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s most recent squad, branding his recall a ‘sad state of affairs’.
Defoe hasn’t represented his country since 2013, but his phenomenal form for Sunderland over the past 18 months, coupled with an injury crisis for the Three Lions, have earned him another chance.
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“The future obviously lies in Harry Kane, but we should have more options to choose from. I’m pleased for Jermain and rate him very highly, but it’s a bit of a sad state of affairs for English football.”
With Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney ruled out of the squad through injury, Defoe joins Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford as the strikers Southgate has at his disposal for the friendly in Germany on Wednesday and the World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley on Sunday.
Barnes believes that it is a sad indictment that the England boss does not have other, more youthful options, to lead the line.
“Look at Wales for an example, they stuck with the players and the manager they have and you saw how they came through it.
“If we don’t do well in the first couple of games, we can’t be critical of him or the players, we have to stick with them and hope they grow together and improve.”
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