Published: Today at 10:14
JERMAIN DEFOE was back with the England squad this morning following the death of his father.
The Tottenham striker returned home from the Euro 2012 base on Thursday morning after hearing the sad news.
However, he rejoined the team at their hotel around 9am and is expected to take part in a closed-doors training session.
England are preparing for Monday's Group D opener against France in Donetsk.
And manager Roy Hodgson will be glad to have Defoe back in the fold.
Although the 29-year-old is not expected to start against the French, he offers a useful goalscoring option from the bench.
Ashley Young is virtually certain to fill the position just behind a central striker in the absence of suspended frontman Wayne Rooney.
Andy Carroll and Danny Welbeck are vying for the other forward berth with the Manchester United star set for the nod.
Carroll was paired with Young during yesterday's public training session.
However, the Liverpool forward was also part of the FA visit to Auschwitz yesterday.
Fitness permitting, the visit seemed to be made up of players who were not going to start on Monday.
Welbeck did make a big impression against Belgium on Saturday, when he scored the only goal.
And it would be no surprise if he got the nod to start his first competitive game.
Hodgson does have some concerns though, with Chelsea duo John Terry and Ashley Cole both said to be nursing muscular problems.
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