Defoe fears he will miss out

Tottenham’s England striker Jermain Defoe fears he may not have enough time left to prove he is worth a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s World Cup squad.

The England coach has already admitted that he is becoming increasingly worried by Defoe’s lack of regular first-team football at White Hart Lane.

Now the former West Ham striker has just six weeks to win his place in the England squad ahead of rivals Darren Bent, Dean Ashton and James Beattie.

With Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch and Michael Owen certainties for a place in Eriksson’s plans, Defoe knows that time is running out if he is to make the plane.

“I have been thinking about which strikers will be going to the World Cup and have tried to work out all the options,” said Defoe.

“I know the manager has said he wants to see more of me and, hopefully, I can get some more games for Spurs before the end of the season.”