Pressure no problem for Defoe

20 January 2015 03:01

New signing Jermain Defoe is relishing the pressure of being asked to fire Sunderland out of Barclays Premier League trouble.

The 32-year-old England international completed a swift return to English football last week after an 11-month spell in the MLS with Toronto when the Black Cats struck a swap deal for United States international Jozy Altidore.

Defoe made his debut against former club Tottenham in a 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane on Saturday, a game in which he was unable to maintain his record of scoring on every debut earlier in his career.

However, while that reverse left the club just a point clear of the drop zone, Defoe is confident he can handle the responsibility of dragging them to safety.

He said: "There's always been pressure, to be honest, on me from when I was young. When I was at West Ham, I came through young, then I signed for Tottenham at a young age, and you are brought in to score goals, it's as simple as that.

"I think it's a good pressure. You have got to enjoy it at the end of the day, you have got to embrace it because at the end of the day, I love playing football, I love scoring goals, and I always believe if I get the chances, I'll score.

"It's not a case of thinking about the pressure too much, you have got to go out there and just enjoy it, just enjoy playing football and hopefully the goals will come."

Source: PA