"?Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has expressed his disappointment and surprise at being overlooked by Roy Hodgson for the European Championship 2016 squad selection, per "?Daily Mail.
The former West Ham and Tottenham forward scored 15 goals for the Black Cats during the season, helping them to Premier League survival. Besides Golden Boot winner Harry Kane and Leicester City's Jamie Vardy, who scored 25 and 24 goals respectively, Defoe is the only other Englishman to have scored that many.
Despite the 33-year-old's form in front of goal, Hodgson decided to pick a young squad, selecting Manchester United's Marcus Rashford ahead of Defoe.
Rashford, 18-years-old, was a breakout player towards the end of the season, scoring seven goals in 16 appearances for the Red Devils.
Defoe, however, clearly felt that he, himself, was deserving of a summer call-up, and insisted that he did everything he could have done.
"Obviously I've not been involved with England for quite a while and I've always thought that getting into an England squad before a tournament is based on merit," Defoe said.
"I just feel like I've done everything that I could do. As a forward if you score goals then you've got a chance of going.
"So obviously, when you're not in the squad, it's a disappointment."
England are to face Russia, Wales and Slovakia in Group B of the tournament, which will be hosted in France from June 10th.