Former Rangers striker Jermain Defoe could yet have an impact on the Scotland World Cup charge as Sunderland forward Ross Stewart praises his impact.
The ex-Ross County striker has been called up to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the first time after a fine season at the Stadium of Light.
And whilst Scotland are only set to play a series of friendlies during this international break, Ross Stewart will be hoping to do enough to convince Steve Clarke to include him in the future.
The 25-year-old striker has 22 goals in 39 League One games this season and Stewart has praised the impact of Jermain Defoe since the striker returned to Sunderland.
Leaving Rangers at the turn of the year following three years at Ibrox, Defoe moved back to the Black Cats and Stewart has praised his influence in helping to secure a call-up.
Ross Stewart praises influence of ex-Rangers star Jermain Defoe
“JD and I have got on really well since he has come in. We have been quite close,” explains Stewart [Daily Record].
“It is good to pick his brain on different things and just to watch him train every day is great because you learn so much from him.
“He has done it throughout his career and so when he did come in I knew it was such a good opportunity for me to learn from him and to add to my own game, knowing he has been there and done it at the highest level.
“He has helped me so much. He is always telling me to be selfish, follow things in and get in positions where you can score.
“All the boys in the dressing room look up to him. He is also still in great shape.”
The comments from Ross Stewart come amid claims from Sunderland-based journalists that former Rangers striker Jermain Defoe is set to hang up his boots.
If the striker does retire, he’ll be handed best wishes by everyone at Rangers after three immensely influential years at Ibrox as a player.
Meanwhile, Rangers fans are being left behind as infighting threatens to mar the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
