Former winger Matthew Etherington states that Jermain Defoe is one of the best players he has ever played with.

Stoke City square off against Sunderland in the Premier League this weekend and if the Potters are to claim a victory on the day, the man whom they will have to keep quiet is Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe.

Etherington wrote in his column for The Sentinel: "He's (Defoe) 32 now, but still a threat, and definitely one of the best I've been lucky enough to play with. I played with him for England youth and he was at West Ham for my first season there.

"With his low centre of gravity, he was always alive inside the penalty area, and what a clinical finisher. I imagine Jermain will be disappointed he didn't win more England caps during his peak, but then again there was quite a bit of competition around for him to go up against at the time."