CHERRIES star Jermain Defoe revealed he would consider a career in football management after his playing days had come to an end.

The striker, 35, still has two seasons remaining on his contract with Cherries having signed on a free transfer from Sunderland in June 2017.

Defoe’s former England team-mates Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have both taken the plunge into management and are embarking on their first seasons with Rangers and Derby, respectively.

And while he was undecided which path he would take following retirement, the Cherries frontman admitted he had consulted boss Eddie Howe about the day-to-day nature of the job.

He told the Daily Echo: “I spoke to the manager and he said it was stressful!

“Some days, you might have six or seven players knocking on your door saying ‘why am I not playing?’

"It’s tough and it’s something I would probably have to sit and think about. I am going to do my badges and we will see what happens.

“Stevie and Frank have gone into it and I hope they do well but it’s not an easy one.”

With 162 top-flight goals, Defoe is seventh in the list of all-time Premier League top goalscorers, the highest still to be playing at England’s elite level.

He is just one behind Robbie Fowler in sixth, while 14 more league goals would see Defoe overhaul Thierry Henry and reach the top five.

Despite a lack of game time in the league with Cherries this season, Defoe has no thoughts about slowing down just yet.

“Ryan Giggs played until he was 40. I’m 35,” he added.

“I’m not sitting here saying I am going to be playing in the Premier League at 40 but, at the same time, if I am still able to do it then yes.

“You have to be honest with yourself and, as long as you’re still enjoying it, that’s the main thing.

“As you get older, it’s not as easy and is demanding on your body. You get days where you think ‘this is tough’ because that’s normal.

“But I still enjoy training. I love training and that feeling you get on a matchday when you wake up in the morning, I don’t think that will ever go.

“Even when I finish playing, I still feel like I will have a little kickaround with my mates and my cousins.

“When I am playing, I still feel sharp. If I can not pick up any injuries, then I feel great.”

Capped 57 times by England, Defoe struck four times in the Premier League for Cherries last season.

He netted the winner in a 2-1 home victory against Brighton in September before a dazzling double at Crystal Palace earned Eddie Howe’s a 2-2 draw two months later.

An ankle fracture checked the former Tottenham hitman’s progress before he returned to net a late leveller in a 2-2 draw at Watford in March.