TORONTO FC STRIKER Jermain Defoe has claimed he is at “the lowest point of (his) career” after being overlooked for a place in England’s World Cup squad.
“This was, without doubt, the lowest point of my career. I’m devastated,” he told Wednesday’s edition of The Sun, having been informed of his non-selection by England manager Roy Hodgson.
“I can’t remember much of the conversation. As soon as he told me I was not in the squad, I switched off. I was heartbroken.”
While Defoe, 31, has been included on Hodgson’s seven-player standby list for the tournament in Brazil, he says that it is scant consolation.
I got left out of the squad in 2006 by Sven-Goran Eriksson after travelling to the training camp and never wanted to feel that low again,” he said. “This feels far worse than then.”
Defoe, who has won 55 international caps and scored 19 goals, left Tottenham Hotspur for Toronto in February, but he does not believe that playing in Major League Soccer is a good enough reason not to pick him.
“Some people are talking like I’ve been here for four years rather than two months,” he added.
“I never had a discussion with Roy about any possible impact on my England chances coming here because I didn’t feel the need to.
“And I did read a quote from him, saying that me playing in MLS doesn’t change anything because he knows me as a player.”
