Jermain Defoe hopes he can continue his goalscoring form once the Premier League campaign gets underway in less than two weeks’ time.

The former Tottenham and Portsmouth striker scored twice against his former club Toronto last week and is keen to remain on the goal trail when Dick Advocaat’s side take on League One side Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday and German side Hannover 96 at the weekend.

Advocaat is believed to be interested in boosting his strikeforce but needs to offload either Steven Fletcher, who has been linked with a switch to Swansea City, or Danny Graham before he can bring a new man in.

Defoe is set to play a key role in Advocaat’s side in the 2015-16 season following the veteran striker’s arrival at the Stadium of Light in January.

The 32-year-old, who scored four goals in 17 Premier League matches for the Black Cats in the second half of last term against Burnley, Swansea, Newcastle and Everton, said: “I want to make sure I’m ready for those first few games of the league season and make sure I’m sharp.

“I always try to get off to a good start really. Sometimes it helps when you manage to get a few goals in pre-season, just in terms of confidence. But we want to get off to a good start to the season as a team too.

“Obviously if I can contribute and nick a few goals early on, then that would be great.”

Sunderland are 3.75 win their first game of the season at Leicester City, with the Foxes 2.05 and the draw 3.25.