Former Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand has slammed the way Jermain Defoe has been treated by England.

He said: "I find the treatment of Jermain mind-boggling. As an England manager, you should be able to come out and say someone is a good player, but I don't think he's international class. Rather than keep bringing people into the squad and not using them, Steve McClaren should be more open. Take the Germany game, we were all keeping our fingers crossed for Michael to be fit for Israel and Russia, but in case he is not you would think Jermain would be in the frame.

"But then look at what happened. Crouch, who is suspended for Israel, goes on ahead of him and Alan Smith, who's been playing as a midfielder, starts ahead of him.

"If I was Jermain, I would think the manager is sending out a message to me. He had the opportunity to give a fit and available centre-forward a run-out and he didn't do it.

"If McClaren feels he's not good enough then he should come out and say 'I don't think he's international class'."