Evergreen Defoe earns England recall

LONDON — Veteran Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe earned a first England call-up in four years Thursday for the forthcoming friendly against Germany and World Cup qualifier against Lithuania. Defoe, 34, has been drafted in after captain Wayne Rooney, Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge were ruled out by injury. He won the last of his 55 caps in November 2013, but has continued to score regularly for Sunderland, netting 14 times in the Premier League this season. "I didn't want to just look at his age and think he's finished with England," England manager Gareth Southgate told reporters at the St George's Park football Centre in Burton-on-Trent, central England. "I think you get young players with a point to prove and older players with a point to prove. "Year after year he's phenomenal, but this year in particular, in a team that aren't creating as many chances as other teams, his strike rate is outstanding." Southgate's 26-man squad included first call-ups for Southampton pair Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse, both of whom played under him at under-21 level. "We are definitely nodding toward the future with some of the decisions we are making," Southgate said. There was also a surprise return for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jake Livermore, who won his sole England cap in 2012. Manchester United trio Phil Jones, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford earned recalls, but there was no place in the squad for Arsenal forward Theo Walcott. Tottenham left-back Danny Rose, Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater also missed out through injury. England tackles Germany in Dortmund Wednesday in Southgate's first game since he was appointed manager on a permanent basis. England then hosts Lithuania at Wembley on March 26 as it looks to cement its place at the top of UEFA World Cup qualifying Group F. Mbappe gets 1st France call-up Teenage forward Kylian Mbappe has been rewarded for his scintillating club performances with Monaco with his first call up to France's national team. The 18-year-old Mbappe, whose speed and skills have led to comparisons with France great Thierry Henry, was included Thursday in coach Didier Deschamp's squad for a World Cup qualifier in Luxembourg and a friendly against Spain. Deschamps called up three other newcomers in his list of 24 players: Mbappe's Monaco teammate Benjamin Mendy, Marseille winger Florian Thauvin and highly-rated Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently said he could see similarities between Mbappe and Henry, who also played for Monaco when he was young. Wenger tried to recruit Mbappe this summer but the rising star of French football — who helped France win the under-19 European in July, scoring five goals — decided to stay in Monaco. France will be without the suspended Paul Pogba for its trip to Luxembourg on March 25 in World Cup qualifying Group A, which the French lead by three points. France hosts Spain at the Stade de France three days later. — AFP