Sunderland veteran Jermain Defoe hasn't given up on an England recall.

The 34-year-old is the leading English scorer in the top flight and only Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane have netted more in 2016.

"Whatever I do, I never give up," Defoe said in an interview with talkSPORT.

"People come up to me and say 'why are you not in the England squad?' and I never know what to say.

"When I was in the England squad, I was in on merit, I was scoring goals and playing well.

"It's not that I've given up, but it gets to a point when I think it almost doesn't matter what I do.

"Even if I get the golden boot I don't think I'd get called up."