Defoe is Sunderland’s top goalscorer so far this season with four.
Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford believes his team can rely on Jermain Defoe to get them goals, providing the other 10 players do their jobs, speaking to safc.com.
The 22-year-old has returned from his spell with the England senior team after a surprise call up, but Pickford’s attentions will now turn back to Premier League action, where the Black Cats prepare to face Stoke, who they share the relegation zone with.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring their second goal
There is already a lot of pressure on striker Defoe to get the goals Sunderland need, and Pickford has total confidence in his ability in front of goal.
“If I do my job and everyone else does theirs across the pitch we will cause teams problems because at the other end of the field Jermain Defoe will score,” Pickford told safc.com.
“It’s what he does because he just needs that one chance and 99 times out of 100 he will score.”
If it was not for Defoe’s goals, Sunderland probably would not be in the Premier League, and they need him to fire more than ever with the club without a league win this season.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring their second goal with Adnan Januzaj
Defoe has already found the net four times this season, but has been let down by the Black Cats defence, whose individual errors have cost David Moyes’ side on too many occasions so far.
The 34-year-old knows there is pressure on him to score, due to the lack of attacking talent in red and white, and hopefully for his sake, the praise from Pickford will only inspire him rather than add extra weight onto his heavy shoulders.
If Defoe is going to score 99 out of 100 chances, then he has already had his one miss, squandering a huge chance against West Brom. With that logic, the England international is going to find the net at every opportunity from here on in.
Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe looks dejected
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