Jermain Defoe has admitted that he was made to feel "wanted" by his new Sunderland manager Gus Poyet.

A host of clubs, including Queens Park Rangers, Hull City and Leicester City, were linked with the former England international when it was made known that he was eager to leave MLS outfit Toronto.

However, he agreed a move to Sunderland following positive discussions with his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate Poyet.

"First and foremost I want to be back here playing games and scoring goals. I've missed the Premier League," he told reporters.

"I'm really looking forward to the challenge and I believe we will create a lot of chances for me and others to score goals.

"You know when a club really wants you and that is special, and I knew from my first conversation with Gus how much he wanted me."

Defoe has signed a contract at the Stadium of Light until the summer of 2018.