Jermain Defoe has revealed why England and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard blew him away in training.
Defoe played with many of England’s most talented players during an international career that started in 2004 and ended in 2017.
The ex-Tottenham, West Ham and Sunderland striker was particularly impressed by Lampard, however, and says both his finishing and work-rate were on another level.
Lampard played over 100 games for England, establishing himself as one of the country’s greatest-ever midfielders as well as a Premier League legend.
No midfielder has scored more goals in Premier League history than Lampard, who remains Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer with three league titles and numerous cups to his name.
Lampard was an established England star when Defoe made his international debut 20 years ago and left a lasting impression on a player who also came through at West Ham.
Discussing Lampard’s talent on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Defoe said: ‘Frank, for me, he finished like a forward.
‘I remember watching him in training with England and just thinking, “wow”. I still remember how hard he worked in training and his finishing.’
Defoe, who has gone into coaching and punditry since hanging up his boots in 2022, also paid tribute to another ex-England star who he looked up to growing up.
‘Wrighty [Ian Wright] was massive for me, he was massive,’ Defoe said.
‘I was quite lucky actually because I grew up in the east end and watched a lot of Ian Wright.
‘And then I signed for West Ham at 16 and he was the first person I saw when I walked through the doors. Can you imagine what that did for me at that age?
‘I would watch not only Wrighty’s goals all the time but also his positions and then practice the movements. He was massive for me.’
While not an England legend, Defoe is regarded as one of the best finishers in Premier League history.
Now 42, Defoe is 10th on the list of all-time Premier League goalscorers with 162.
Lampard is sixth with 177, while ex-England striker Alan Shearer still leads the chasing pack with an impressive 260.
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