Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has insisted that he will "continue to work hard" in an attempt to earn a recall to the England squad under former boss Sam Allardyce.
The 33-year-old has not featured for the Three Lions since 2013 when swapping the Premier League for America's Major League Soccer.
Defoe has since returned to English football and impressed with 15 league goals last time out, while also scoring against Manchester City in the Black Cats' season opener at the weekend.
Allardyce, who managed Defoe at the Stadium of Light last season, was in attendance at the Etihad Stadium to watch him open his account for the campaign and could now give the 52-cap striker a reprieve when naming his first squad.
"Yeah [Allardyce] was watching. [David Moyes] said before the game he wished all the boys all the best and he gave me a little nod as if to say he is watching you," Defoe is quoted as saying by The Metro. "I thought I had a chance with the previous manager but I don't know!
"It is important for me to just get my head down, people will say what they like but it is down to me. I need to continue to work hard, keep sharp and forwards get judged on scoring goals."
Defoe is 10th in the list of all-time Premier League scorers, with Wayne Rooney the only active player above him.
