Sam Allardyce: Jermain Defoe "very good option" for England

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has encouraged Roy Hodgson to consider including Jermain Defoe in his England squad for this summer's European Championships.

Thirty-three-year-old Defoe has hit the back of the net 15 times so far in the Premier League this season - a return that is only bettered by two English players, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy.

It seemed that Hodgson's five strikers for the tournament were set in stone, but the knee injury suffered by Danny Welbeck at the weekend could now open up a place.

Asked by BBC Sport if his in-form frontman should be in contention, Allardyce replied: "He can still do it at the highest level.

"His record tells Roy that if he needs to score goals at the Euros, Jermain Defoe is there. If he needs the option, Jermain Defoe is a very good option for him."

Defoe earned the last of his 55 senior international caps in 2013.