Euro 2012: Bereaved Jermain Defoe flies out after death of his father

STRIKER Jermain Defoe has returned to England following the death of his father.

The FA confirmed the news yesterday, adding that he is expected to return to Poland at some point and no replacement is being called up. It is not known at this point whether Defoe will be back prior to Monday’s Group D opener against France in Donetsk.

“England striker Jermain Defoe has returned home to England this morning following the passing of his father overnight,” read an FA statement. “Jermain will re-join the England Euro squad in due course. There will be no replacement player called in. ”

His club Tottenham have also offered their sympathies. “Everyone at the club sends their sincere condolences to Jermain and his family.”

The Football Association and England manager Roy Hodgson will offer Defoe as much time off as he needs and still view the 29-year-old as a central component of the squad, even though he was unlikely to start against France.