Jermain Defoe has been a surprise package in the 2016-17 Premier league campaign, as he has been the only real goal scorer for Sunderland this season.

Despite playing in a team that has been stuck to the bottom of the table for much of the campaign, the 34-year-old has been able to plunder 14 goals in the league. This good form has seen him make a step back into the international team. Since making his debut for England back in 2004, Defoe has been in and out of the team. As a result, he has made only 56 appearances for the national team.

Jurgen Klopp has one again refused to blame England manager Gareth Southgate for the injury suffered by Adam Lallana, despite the player’s huge significance to Liverpool in the remainder of the campaign. The midfielder will is only just returning to fitness, and was not available for the derby game with Everton, as well as the dreadful Crystal Palace game that sess Liverpool needing to win all of their remaining matches to be sure of Champions League footblla next season.

Lallana injured his thigh while playing for England in the World Cup 2018 qualifier against Lithuania. Whilst the game finished as a 2-0 victory for the national team, this injury to Lallana was a major blow for Liverpool.

England will definitely be without midfielder Jordan Henderson for the upcoming games against Germany and Lithuania, as Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that the player is still struggling with an injury.

Henderson has not played for Liverpool for well over a month. His last appearance for the Reds was in the 2-0 win over Tottenham at the start of February. Even though Liverpool have managed to get wins over Arsenal and Burnley in recent weeks, they have solely as to the presence of the former Sunderland midfielder. He has truly been an unsung hero in the Liverpool first-team.

Slaven Bilic says that he would consider naming West Ham captain Mark Noble in the England squad if he was in place of Gareth Southgate.

The interim manager was recently appointed as the permanent successor for Sam Allardyce. He is not expected to ring much changes to the England squad for the upcoming games against Germany and Lithuania. Southgate is largely expected to name the same squad that featured in his four trial games. Mark Noble has been one of the best players in the Premier league who has been unable to feature much for the national team.

Liverpool playmaker Adam Lallana has been awarded the 2016 England Player of the Year, following a vote by the England Supporters Club.

The Three Lions star picked up the award ahead of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy and Red Devils skipper Wayne Rooney.

England boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Steve Holland will be joining in with the national team as the new assistant boss.

Holland will be taking over this role after quitting Chelsea at the end of the season. He has been the assistant boss at the Premier League outfit for the last five years after being appointed in 2011. During this period, he has been part of the squad that won the Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, and Premier League titles. He has also worked with some of the best managers in the world like GuusHiddink, Jose Mourinho, and, recently, Antonio Conte.

A few English attackers have come on leaps and bounds this season with their clubs, and it bodes well for Gareth Southgate and the England national side. Here’s a look at three of the standout performers and an analysis of their achievements so far this season.

Raheem Sterling

The FA would not charge Wayne Rooney despite his poor decisions whilst on international duty for England.

The Manchester United and England captain was pictured inappropriately late in the night following England’s 3-0 triumph over neighbours, Scotland during the international break.

Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will be captained the England national team for the upcoming World Cup 2018 qualification game against Scotland and the friendly against Spain.

These two games are extremely important for Southgate, as it represents his application for a permanent role as the England manager. He has been appointed only on an interim basis until the end of the season. England are widely expected to appoint a popular name – perhaps even foreign – as the replacement for Sam Allardyce.

Kyle Walker is self-assured that England are fully prepared with an alternative plan in case one fails after their Euro 2016 terrible performance which should help them well in World Cup qualification.

The England national side strived hard under the former coach, Roy Hodgson during the Euro in France with alone win in their three group-stage matches. Their time in the knockout stages was short-lived as Iceland knocked them out in a 2-1 tough clash in Allianz Riviera, Nice, France. Upon having been paraded as huge favorites to triumph against Iceland, the Three Lions ended up in an embarrassing 2-1 defeat in Nice.