Howe believes the prospect of playing regular football for his side will tempt Defoe to make the switch to keep alive his hopes of an England swansong in Russia next summer.
Defoe’s four-year England absence ended as he scored his 20th goal for the Three Lions in their qualifying win over Lithuania at Wembley on Sunday.
Defoe was a teenage superstar when he went on loan to Bournemouth from West HamNews Group Newspapers LtdThe 34-year-old first started making headlines in Dorset 17 years agoNews Group Newspapers LtdHarry Redknapp sent the young striker on loan to the Cherries and he lit up the placeNews Group Newspapers Ltd
England boss Gareth Southgate was asked if the striker, who will be nearly 36 by the time the tournament kicks off, could be a genuine option.
And he offered a carrot to the recently-turned vegan.
Southgate said: “If he is scoring goals in the Premier League and playing as well as he has this season, there’s absolutely no reason why he couldn’t.”
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Defoe has been the shining light in Sunderland’s relegation-haunted campaign, netting 14 times in 28 League appearances.
The former West Ham, Spurs and Portsmouth hitman is now seventh in the all-time Prem scoring charts with 157.
Sunderland rejected a £6million bid from West Ham for Defoe in January, with boss David Moyes arguing that losing their one proven source of goals would scupper any chance of staying up.
Defoe’s team-mates have scored just TEN goals between them all season and the Black Cats are bottom of the Prem, seven points adrift of safety.
Defoe will not stay if Sunderland are relegated, especially after seeing his England ambitions reignited.
This season Defore scored against Bournemouth in the Premier LeaguePA:Press AssociationSunderland rejected a £6million bid from West Ham for Defoe in January but the Cherries could better thatReutersDefoe looked in prime condition alongside younger stars like Adam LallanaNews Group Newspapers LtdDefoe scored against Lithuania to mark his return to the international sceneRex FeaturesDefoe will not stay if Sunderland are relegated especially after his England ambitions were reignitedReuters
The striker said last week: “When I missed out on the last World Cup squad it was hard news to accept. But you have to be realistic.”
The striker had quit England for an ill-fated spell in Toronto ahead of the Brazil finals.
Defoe added: “The boys I was competing against were playing in the Premier League and Europe and that was probably why I missed out.
“So I would probably need to be playing in the Premier League to have a chance of going to the World Cup. You have to be playing at the top level, it is as simple as that.”
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