Sunderland striker Jermaine Defoe has admitted he has not spoken to Roy Hodgson since missing out on the World Cup last summer, but he’s still keen on trying to earn a place in the England set-up.

Defoe returned to the Premier League with Sunderland, who are priced at 4.00 to be relegated in January, after spending a year in the MLS with Toronto FC, which may have affected his chanced of featuring at the World Cup in Brazil.

The former Tottenham man was overlooked by Hodgson despite still hitting the net regularly for the Canadian outfit.

The 32-year-old is still hopeful that he can play a role for the national side and believes that being back in England on a three-and-a-half-year deal could put him back on Hodgson’s radar.

The striker insists that he still has a lot to give for the Three Lions as they prepare to build for the European Championships in France in 2016.

Hodgson has seen a number of veterans, such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, call time on their England careers recently but Defoe insists he will always be available for selection.

Defoe said: “I’ve not spoken to Roy Hodgson since he told me he was leaving me out of the World Cup.

“I don’t think I need to, to be honest.

“I’ve never been tempted to retire from international football. I still think I’ve got a lot to offer. I still feel sharp. I’ve always worked hard and I still feel like I’ve got a lot of goals left in me.

“I was disappointed and upset, but, at the same time, I still want to score goals for England.”