Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Jermain Defoe has expressed his desire to make an impact at the upcoming European Championships, even if it comes from the bench.
Defoe, 29, came on as a substitute in England's 1-0 win over Belgium last night, hitting the post in a threatening cameo.
The Spurs striker is likely to be behind Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll and Danny Welbeck in the pecking order, but he is hopeful that he will get the chance to make a difference.
"I'll try my best. It's important to have that at a tournament - not only players that actually start the game, players that can come on and make an impact - especially in tournaments when some games go down to extra time," said Defoe.
"You get to semi-finals and, hopefully, finals and then fatigue kicks in. You've got to just stay focused on the bench. You might get a chance to win the game - you never know.
"So, it's important just to keep sharp, watch the game as you're not playing and get on and try to make an impact. I believe I can do that."
Yesterday's game was Defoe's 47th for England, a record 30 of which have come as a sub.
Barney Corkhill
