England's Jermain Defoe hopes vegan diet can prolong career

Dele Alli says it was an honour for him and England's young players to be on the pitch with Jermain Defoe. Jermain Defoe reveals emotions behind his first England goal in four years while Jamie Vardy tells the source of his black-eye. Jermain Defoe is hoping to make amends for previous disappointments by securing a place in England's World Cup squad. Sunderland and England striker Jermain Defoe has turned to veganism in a bid to stay on top of his game at 34. Gareth Southgate hails Jermain Defoe's leadership in the England squad and says a goal was never in doubt.



"I'm trying. Everyone wants to feel fresh in the game – there's no better feeling – so I just make sure I'm doing the right things and trying to tick every box: cryotherapy, massage, eating the right things ... I'm trying to turn vegan. I still enjoy training, the buzz is still there and I just want to try to play as long as I can. He's got a lot of experience, he's a fantastic goalscorer and the boys look up to him. So I do the stuff that will give me the best opportunity to perform and score goals.

Jermain Defoe hoping vegan diet can keep him on course for World Cup

"I have a better understanding of my body now," he said after netting to end a wait of four years and four days between international goals. "I don't find anything hard because I know the feeling of scoring goals," he said. So I'm just making sure I'm doing the right things - cryotherapy, massage, eating the right things...trying to turn vegan. There was times I was scoring goals, especially last season, and I wasn't selected for the Euros. Defoe ended a three-and-a-half absence from the international stage on Sunday, opening the scoring in the Three Lions' 2-0 Wembley win over Lithuania.
collected by :Lucy William