Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has said he is feeling sharp ahead of the new Premier League season, after scoring a double on his return to his former club Toronto FC.
The Black Cats rounded off their 12-day stay in America with a 2-1 victory over the MLS side with Defoe’s brace cancelling out the opening effort from Jonathan Osorio.
Having lost in the two previous matches Stateside to Sacramento Republic and CF Pachuca respectively, this will give them confidence going into their final two pre-season matches before the big kick-off against Leicester City on August 8.
These were Defoe’s first goals of the pre-season and the former; West Ham, Tottenham and Portsmouth man believes he’s gradually discovering match fitness saying that the Toronto was the “sharpest” he had felt “in a long time”.
Defoe also added that he believes “By the time the season starts” that the Black Cats will be “ready”.
Defoe made his move to the Stadium of Light in January with Jozy Altidore going the opposite way with many Toronto supporters feeling that he didn’t live up to his expectations in his injury-hit year in Canada after his £6milion move from Tottenham.
However during his short time on Wearside he has begun to impress with four goals in 17 appearances including a crucial winning goal in the Tyne/Wear derby that proved vital in their survival against relegation into the Sky Bet Championship.
Defoe received a frosty reception from the Toronto fans inside the BMO Field with the majority of the crowd booing the 32-year-old.
However, despite the reception he received, he enjoyed his return to Canada saying: “It was nice to see a lot of faces that I recognise and it was good, a bit strange but I enjoyed it.”
The striker said he “expected” some boos from the crowd but accepted that it was “part and parcel” of modern day football.
Sunderland will continue their season preparations when they play Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday July 29.