Defoe returns home from Euros after father dies

England striker Jermain Defoe has returned home from the team’s Euro 2012 training base in Krakow following the death of his father.

The Tottenham forward is expected to return to the squad in due course and no replacement will be called up.

England’s first match is on Monday in Donetsk against France.

Wayne Rooney is ineligible for the first two games in the tournament, and the other main strikers in the squad are Danny Welbeck and Andy Carroll.

Defoe appeared as a late substitute in England’s final warm-up match, hitting the post in a 1-0 victory over Belgium at Wembley on Saturday.

It is not certain when the striker will return to the squad but he was not expected to start in any case against France.

The 29-year-old made his 47th England appearance last weekend, a record 30 of which have been as a subsitute, and he has scored 15 goals for his country.

He also spent much of last season on the bench at Spurs, but scored 17 goals.

Following the news of his return home a Spurs statement said: “Everyone at the club sends their sincere condolences to Jermain and his family.”