Sven impressed with Defoe

Koen Freriks

30 mei 2006, 14:10

Sven-Goran Eriksson has praised the attitude and application shown by Jermain Defoe, who could earn a World Cup spot if Wayne Roney fails to recover from his broken metatarsal.

Defoe is on standby, along with Everton-bound Andrew Johnson, and in contention to replace Rooney in England's final 23-man squad for Germay should Rooney's scan on June 7 provide bad news.

The 23-year-old Tottenham striker would appear to have the edge given the fact he was playing in the Barclays Premiership last season.

Eriksson said: 'Jermain Defoe has been getting better and better since he joined up with us. He has had a difficult season at Tottenham in not having played in all the games'.