JERMAIN Defoe has confirmed he completed a medical with Cherries prior to linking up with the England squad last week.

The striker also reiterated his pledge to delay a definite announcement on his future until after the Three Lions' forthcoming matches with Scotland and France.

Defoe has a clause in his Sunderland contract enabling him to leave the Stadium of Light on a free transfer following the club's relegation from the Premier League.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Defoe said: "It's out there, a lot of people obviously knew, I did a medical and said when this is finished and I've had a break, come July everyone will know anyway."

The 34-year-old, who scored 19 goals in 31 appearances for Cherries during a loan spell in 2000-01, also claimed it would have been disrespectful to current employers Sunderland to go public with his next destination so soon after their drop into the Championship.

"Two and a bit years at Sunderland, I enjoyed my time there and it's not nice when you get relegated," said Defoe. "I don't think it's fair on the Sunderland fans to come out so soon after they've been relegated and say 'yeah, I'm signing for someone else'.

"It's too soon to put it out there. At the right time, I would like to say 'this is the club I'll be playing for'."

Defoe hit the target 15 times last season despite his club's dismal form and won an England recall after more than three years away from the international scene.

He is in the Three Lions squad for Saturday's World Cup qualifying clash with Scotland and a friendly in France three days later.

Talking to Sky Sports, Defoe added: "What I want to do is get my head down and focus on England, the two games, and then after that everyone will know.

"It's documented about the Bournemouth thing. It's a club close to my heart anyway, for obvious reasons. I was there as a kid. I think I was 18, on loan from West Ham.

"It's a special place, with a top manager, and a team that's done so well from where they've come from. A unique story."