Football pundit and former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher has said that Jermain Defoe gives Sunderland an “edge” over their relegation rivals.
Hot property
The 33-year-old is on a hot streak of form for the Black Cats as of late - with five goals in the last three matches - which has seen Sam Allardyce’s side climb to the brink of safety.
Two goals in the 3-1 victory over Aston Villa and a hat-trick in the crucial 4-2 win over Swansea City brought them within a point of Alan Curtis' 17th-placed side.
However, the England international was isolated in the 4-1 defeat to former club Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and Swansea's 1-0 win against Watford on Monday night increased the safety gap to four points.
High importance
Despite his frustrating performance against Mauricio Pochettino’s side on Saturday, Carragher believes that the goal threat that he can bring will lead Sunderland to safety.
He wrote in his Daily Mail column that an “in-form” Defoe gives Sunderland an “edge” on their rivals at the “foot of the table”.
He added that his “pace” had the potential to take opposition defenders out of their “comfort zone” and when opportunities came his way his finishing was “first class”.
Liverpool bound?
Carragher went onto say that Defoe was once a target for his former club Liverpool, adding that when Kenny Daglish was manager in January 2012 he considered Defoe as he would be a “guarantee of goals”. However, he decided against it with Luis Suarez, Dirk Kuyt and Andy Carroll still at the club.
He also said that he was “considered” back in 2006 by then manager Rafael Benitez but the Spaniard “chose Craig Bellamy instead”.
Sunderland will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome AFC Bournemouth to the Stadium of Light on Saturday, January 23 with kick-off at 3PM GMT.