Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has revealed Toronto FC striker Jermain Defoe is "devastated" over claims made by QPR boss Harry Redknapp on the weekend. Redknapp had told Radio 5 Live at the weekend that when he was Tottenham boss some players had asked him to pull them out of England squads. But he has refused to identify those involved.
Gerrard said: "If he's not naming them, I can't answer that. If it's the case, it's disgusting. For me, if a player doesn't want to be, he doesn't deserve to be here at a World Cup. The comment is a comment, like 'them'.
"They' didn't want to play for England. Who? Name them? Is it Aaron Lennon, Kyle Walker, Andros Townsend?
"I don't know who he means. Five years ago? 10 years ago? I've spoken to Jermain Defoe and he's devastated.
"I can understand why you've asked the question, with Harry Redknapp a big coach in the game, but we need names. We need names. But it's not here. I can guarantee it's not here."
