JERMAIN Defoe rewrote the record books when he last played for Cherries.

Sixteen years ago, though, the striker’s place in history was secured off his own bat. Should Defoe complete a transfer to Dean Court this summer, he could conceivably ink his name into the club’s annals once more; in quick time, too.

Unlike the 2000-01 campaign when he entered the football public’s consciousness by scoring in 10 consecutive League matches, though, Defoe’s latest feat would be achieved by dint of circumstance.

If he retains his place in the England squad for matches against Malta and Slovakia in September, the 34-year-old could become the first Cherries player to win a full cap for the country.

This potential scenario is purely the product of conjecture, of course. Nevertheless, it serves to illustrate the mountainous task Eddie Howe's English players face to gain international recognition.

Indeed, one wag on Twitter this week suggested Defoe was delaying penning a Cherries deal in order to circumvent England boss Gareth Southgate’s rule about not selecting players from the club.

Defender Charlie Daniels was more measured when he spoke to the Daily Echo about the subject, accepting it was up to his team’s English contingent to maintain their “extremely high levels” in pursuit of Three Lions honours.

Howe has a self-effacing bunch under his command. Certainly, none of Daniels, Adam Smith and Steve Cook are going to start pumping up their own tyres when it comes to this issue.

Nevertheless, Smith could be forgiven if he was smarting when his phone failed to ring after Nathaniel Clyne withdrew from the England squad this week.

The right-back, actually, must be utterly perplexed as to how he has been eased out of the England frame. He was on standby for a squad named on November 6 last year, ready to step in should Clyne or Kyle Walker fall over.

Smith has subsequently started 23 Premier League matches and been in stellar form, particularly in the closing months of the campaign.

In the same period, Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier started six Premier League matches. His two most eye-catching displays came against Watford.

Tripper also got the nod ahead of clubmate Walker for some pretty big cup matches last season. The 26-year-old was in the Spurs team for a Champions League fixture in Monaco, he appeared against Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final and at Liverpool in the EFL Cup fourth round.

Tottenham lost all three games, conceding eight goals. Yet Trippier has jumped ahead of Smith in Southgate’s thinking.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. Harry Redknapp has admitted his bewilderment as to how ‘Rolls Royce’ defender Simon Francis was ignored by his country when he was purring at right-back for Howe’s side.

Francis’s now central defensive partner Steve Cook’s take on the matter more than 12 months ago is worth revisiting: “If you are English and playing for a bigger club, you stand more chance than if you play for the likes of us,” he said.

Then a flash of optimism: “Hopefully, when we are more established next season, a few of our lads will have more of a chance.” Evidently not.

Cook's England ambitions, one suspects, are being stymied by Cherries’ goals against record.

If so, that is grossly unfair. Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson is in Southgate’s party for this month’s matches against Scotland and France.

His supporters will argue relegated Boro conceded 53 times last season, 14 fewer than Cherries. Cook’s team, though, scored 55 goals, dwarfing Middlesbrough’s paltry total of 27.

It is pretty clear, then, that Gibson was operating in a side whose primary mission was to smother opponents, anathema to Howe and his open, expressive team.

It is only fair to recognise, here, that some very good Premier League footballers are just that; excellent at domestic level but perhaps short of what England require.

Messrs Smith, Cook and Daniels, though, do not fall into that category. The trio possess the bravery and talent to thrive in international football.

Above all, they are continually improving, by no means a given for top-level footballers. Chris Smalling at Manchester United is still making the same mistakes he was when he joined the club seven years ago. And still being picked by England.

Southgate called up Defoe in March after the Sunderland player's three-year absence from the Three Lions scene.

But if the England manager has a proper look at Cherries' unheralded defensive trio he could yet be the man who wrests another piece of history from the forward's grasp.