TORONTO

This weekend might be Jermain Defoe’s final chance.

The same player who last month “hoped” Roy Hodgson would be watching now needs England’s bench boss to side with selective memory when he releases his provisional World Cup roster next month.

Memories of the 31-year-old bagging three goals through his first two MLS games.

Memories of the World Cup veteran scoring a crucial game-winner against Slovenia at the 2010 World Cup.

Memories of Defoe’s stunning strike against Italy in a friendly two years back.

With Toronto FC’s Michael Bradley (U.S.) and Julio Cesar (Brazil) locks to appear for their respective nations in Brazil, popular thought among North American pundits is Defoe’s window with England has shut.

The blinds closed.

The light switch flipped off.

After all, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge are all but locks to be included in Hodgson’s 23-man side.

A fourth spot, though, remains up for grabs, especially with Theo Walcott and Jay Rodriguez both out through knee injuries.

That leaves TFC’s Defoe and Southampton’s Rickie Lambert — granted a few others have outside shots — to fight for the final forward spot in England’s World Cup squad — and pundits across the pond have a slightly different take when pouring over the options, which could leave TFC down a striker before and after the Major League Soccer’s two-week World Cup break.

“I’d imagine Hodgson will take Rooney, Sturridge and Welbeck, plus one more striker,” Chris Boden, a beat reporter with England’s Burnley Express, told me Monday.

“And looking at the options, you would probably narrow that down to Defoe or Lambert — with (Andy) Carroll, (Peter) Crouch, (Gabriel) Agbonlahor and so on not really staking a claim.

“Lambert is a different option — a good target man who is excellent technically. But Defoe’s England strike rate suggests he wouldn’t let his country down.”

Bizarrely, Hodgson has stated that upon announcing his provisional pre-World Cup camp roster of 30 players on May 13, he’ll alert seven of those included that they’re on the outside looking in — little more than squad players, if you will.

While all 30 players will train with England in Portugal next month, seven won’t appear when the Three Lions take on Peru in London on May 30 — or in any other pre-World Cup tune-ups.

“Seven will know that in my thinking, they aren’t actually in the squad and they’ve got to go there as if you like to call them, a stand-by player,” Hodgson recently told Sky Sports 1. “It will make certain that if anything did happen, these players would be fit when they’re called back in again.”

Cruel and unusual, isn’t it? Bringing in players who, it would seem, don’t even have an outside chance of earning a spot in camp, the nightmare scenario for TFC and Defoe, who could miss multiple games for, well, nothing.

Which brings us back to Defoe’s current status ahead of a weekend tilt with New England Revolution at BMO Field, a match that’s expected to be Defoe’s first since fans watched him limp off against Real Salt Lake a month ago.

A match that could be his last in MLS before he joins England in southern Europe.

Since his arrival, Defoe has stated Hodgson “knows” what he can do.

In that sense, just proving he’s finally fit might be enough to see him included in Hodgson’s squad on May 13.

Only the gaffer knows if Defoe’s pedigree remains substantial enough to get him on the plane.

AS GOOD AS GONE

Bradley, who I boldly proclaimed the best player in North America a few weeks back, and Cesar, who Brazilian manager Luiz Felipe Scolari recently announced as one of his captains, are locks to take part in the month-long tournament.

Other than Seattle’s Clint Dempsey, Bradley might be in the most in-form Yank at the moment while Cesar’s sure hands have instilled confidence in front of him.

It’s unlikely TFC head coach Ryan Nelsen will use Cesar in both Canadian Championship games (May 7 and 14) against the Vancouver Whitecaps, meaning this Saturday’s MLS match against New England could be Cesar’s second-to-last MLS match, assuming he stays for a May 17 date against New York ahead of FIFA’s mandated deadline.

It’s unclear if Bradley will be available for any more MLS matches after Saturday, but he could take part in at least one Canadian Championship match.

BOUND FOR BRAZIL

Will Jermain Defoe join these MLS players in line to appear at this summer’s World Cup?

USA

Nick Rimando, GK, RSL

Matt Besler, DF, KC

Omar Gonzalez, DF, LA

Clarence Goodson, DF, SJ

Brad Evans, D/M, SEA

Michael Parkhurst, DF, CLB

Michael Bradley, MF, TFC

Clint Dempsey, FW, SEA

Landon Donovan, F/M, LA

Graham Zusi, MF, KC

Brad Davis, MF, HOU

Kyle Beckerman, RSL

Maurice Edu, MF, PHI

Chris Wondolowski, FW, SJ

Eddie Johnson, FW, DC

HONDURAS

Marvin Chavez, MF, COL

Oscar Boniek Garcia, MF, HOU

Jerry Bengston, FW, NE

Victor Bernardez, DF, SJ

AUSTRALIA

Tim Cahill, MF, NY

COSTA RICA

Roy Miller, DF, NY

Giancarlo Gonzalez, DF, CLB

Waylon Francis, DF, CLB

Alvaro Saborio, FW, RSL

Jario Arrieta, FW, CLB

Rodney Wallace, DF, POR

BRAZIL

Julio Cesar, GK, TFC

IRAN