Jermain Defoe says his mum is asking when he will complete his coaching badges

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe says he is not planning when he will hang up his boots just yet, but his mum is.

The 34-year-old striker was named the North East Football Writers' Player of 2016 at the weekend, having scored 20 times over the calendar year.

Defoe is once again spearheading Sunderland's battle with relegation this season and has netted 14 goals in the current Premier League campaign, but he has revealed calls for his retirement are coming from those closest to him.

"My mum keeps asking me," Defoe told Sky Sports News HQ. "'How long are you going to play for? When are you going to do your coaching badges?'

2:56 Highlights as Sunderland were beaten 4-0 at home to Southampton on Saturday Highlights as Sunderland were beaten 4-0 at home to Southampton on Saturday

"I don't know to be honest. It's just like life, I take each day as it comes. Even my friends in football, Les Ferdinand and Ian Wright, I always say to them 'do you miss it?'

"They miss not just the training and the games but just being around the lads in the changing room and stuff like that.

"I've always said that it's important that players try to play as long as they can. That's why I've always looked after myself, because I love it."

Defoe was on target twice in Sunderland's 4-0 demolition of fellow top-flight strugglers Crystal Palace over a week ago, but could not find the net as the Black Cats went down by the same scoreline against Southampton on Saturday.

Bradley loves @IAmJermainDefoe he didn't want him to leave today and fell asleep cuddling into him #specialbond #bestfriends pic.twitter.com/sn2symKhdv — Bradley Lowery (@Bradleysfight) February 9, 2017

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker had visited Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, who has terminal cancer, in hospital in the build up to the game and admitted he was disappointed not to be able to dedicate a positive result to the five-year-old.

"I get strength from him," Defoe said. "I could talk about football all day but certain things are difficult to talk about. To be at the hospital and see a little kid like that suffer, I've been there with my dad and people that are older than me, and even then it's hard to understand.

"All he wanted to do was just go to sleep and have a cuddle. Even that, on Saturday I was looking forward to the game because I wanted to win the game for him, obviously it wasn't meant to be. But [he is] an amazing young man, in my prayers every night."