Defoe earns Southgate’s approval

England’s striker Jermain Defoe (L) jubilates his first goal during the World Cup 2018 qualification football match between England and Lithuania at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday March 26, 2017 England manager Gareth Southgate’s optimism for Jermain Defoe will enable the English player feature in next year’s World Cup after his brilliant goal. Defoe’s return to the national team for the qualification match between England and Lithuania on Sunday was most commendable.The 34 year-old Sunderland striker net the ball for England’s opener in 2-0 win over Lithuania after three and a half years out of action.In the current Premier League season, Defoe has scored 14 goals for Sunderland. He made the list of players owing to the absence of the duo of Harry Kane and Daniel Sturridge due to injuries. “I think we’ve got to look every time we get together as to who is in form,” Southgate said at Wembley.“I don’t know if we can have a distinct pecking order because players who are playing well deserve the opportunity. If we are going to be successful, we have to have that competition for places.“The reality is we will always lose players to injury. We’re never able to pick a full cohort, so it’s important we can call upon the likes of Jermain and he can have the impact he does like he did today.“If he scores like he is in the Premier League, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be (picked for the World Cup).”This was Defoe’s 20th international goal scored in the 22nd minute as he floated a side-foot shot beyond Ernestas Setkus closely following a dash upfront left by Raheem Sterling.Substitute Jamie Vardy notched the hosts’ second in the 66th minute, finishing coolly after being set up by Adam Lallana’s exquisite flicked pass.The trio of Sterling and Lallana had the freedom to coordinate alongside Dele Alli in England’s 4-2-3-1 formation which was commended by Southgate.“He’s a player we really like,” Southgate said of Manchester City winger Sterling.“We don’t have a lot of players in the country who can beat people in one-versus-one situations and he’s explosive in those types of areas.“He’s improving all the time and has the hunger and desire to improve. He’s a ballsy player and I like that about him as well.”“Adam injects something. He created a really good opening just before the first goal. The game in tight areas is where his quick feet and quick brain stand out.“There weren’t so many opportunities for us to turn the ball over high up the pitch, but he starts that press off. I’m really impressed with his mentality and quality.”In last week’s friendly match lost to Germany by a lone goal, Southgate played a trial 3-4-2-1 formation only to vie for the 4-2-3-1 arrangement against Lithuania.“The good thing now is every coach who plays against us has got to prepare for two systems,” he said. “They’re going to have to work a bit harder, which is great.”England is four points ahead of close rival in UEFA qualifying Group F, yet Southgate reasoned a need for caution ahead of June’s trip to arch rivals Scotland.