Jermain Defoe believes any negativity directed towards him is largely unwarranted.
The English striker has been restricted to just 19 matches in his debut season in MLS with Toronto FC because of a niggling groin injury.
Former Tottenham star Defoe has been criticized for not showing enough commitment to the Reds but he was quick to tell reporters that he feels that those adverse words are unjust.
"You read things, and obviously social media is powerful, and I see things from the fans," he said.
"I try not to read it, but I'm only human. But obviously I want to read things, and you want people to like you, you want the fans to realize that you love playing for the club and you love football.
"Sometimes I read it and I think to myself, 'Are they talking about me? They must be getting the wrong person'.
"I suppose it's part and parcel of playing football, and I'll take it on the chin. I'm professional, and as long as I know in my heart is that I'm committed then I suppose the rest doesn't really bother me."
Defoe revealed that he will now go for surgery on the affected area as he looks to be fit and firing for the 2015 MLS season.
"It's something I need fixing because it's stopping me from what I really want to do in games," Defoe added.
"... I tried everything. I tried resting. I got treatment in London."
Despite his issues, Defoe scored 11 goals in his first campaign with TFC who sit seventh on the Eastern Conference table with one regular season fixture remaining.
