Former Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe turns 37 today, which has drawn an emotive response from many fans of the Black Cats.

Defoe has made a fantastic start to the season for Steven Gerrard’s Rangers in the SPFL, scoring 12 goals in 14 appearances in the 2019/20 campaign and helping them to the top of the league.

The striker, who scored 20 times in 57 appearances for England, joined Sunderland from Toronto in January 2015.

He made 93 appearances in two and a half seasons for the North East club, scoring 37 goals, before leaving to join Bournemouth in 2017 when the Black Cats were relegated from the Premier League.

Things have gone from bad to worse for Sunderland since as they were relegated to League One in the 2017/18 season and were unable to seal a return last term.

Jack Ross’ side is calling out for a prolific striker at the moment as his current options have just three goals between the three of them this season.

Defoe’s milestone has drawn an understandably emotional response from many Sunderland fans, who took to Twitter to heap praise on the forward and ask him to come back.

Read the reaction of Black Cats supporters here:

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