Sunderland striker Jermaine Defoe has hinted that he could consider an exit from the relegation-bound club in order to keep his England hopes alive.

The 34-year-old, who has scored 14 league goals for the bottom-placed Black Cats, was handed an England recall by manager Gareth Southgate last week.

Defoe is now aiming for a place in the 2018 World Cup squad after missing out in 2014, and he thinks that it would be imperative for him to continue playing in the Premier League, indicating he could leave Sunderland if they fail to avoid relegation.

"Obviously you have to be realistic and to get into any squad it is based on merit and you need to be playing at the top level," Defoe said.

"When I went to Toronto (in MLS in early 2014) I missed out on going to the World Cup and it was a hard call to take.

"I would say I probably need to be playing in the Premier League but we will see what happens."