By Enda Coll
Down through the years England has produced some of the best strikers on the planet; Michael Owen, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney, to name but a few. However in recent times, they have been calling out for a goalscorer who can produce quality when it’s needed most. Could Harry Kane be that player?
Lack of options
A lack of options has been the major issue for England when it comes down to choosing their strike-force. With Wayne Rooney dropping further back, they’ve been left with Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge.
Sturridge is undoubtedly good enough having scored 21 goals in the league last season for Liverpool, however he has now been ruled out by injury.
Welbeck on the other hand only managed to score nine for Manchester United last season and currently stands on eight goals for the gunners this season. Charlie Austin, Saido Berahino and Ricky Lambert have also been considered for the role, but that just seems like English people have been jumping the gun after those players scored a few goals in succession. Thus, this leaves us with Harry Kane. Should he be given hi début for England? Is he England’s next big striker?
Top of the Pops
The Premier League this season has been dominated by it’s strikers and Harry Kane currently stands at the top of that tree. After his first ever hattrick against Leicester last weekend, Kane became the joint top goalscorer along with Diego Costa (both have 19 goals this season).
The majority of these goals have been crucial in Tottenham’s top four fight this year; Kane has been credited with an phenomenal 22 out of Spurs’ 53 points this year. He is credited for these points because of match winning goals he has scored in the final 20 minutes of games.
Style of play
Many people will argue that England need a particular kind of striker; Strong, good in the air and of coarse, an eye for goal. This year, Harry Kane has proven he has all of these traits and more.
With many of his goals coming from headers, including the match winner against Arsenal, Kane is undeniably strong in the air. He has also proven himself capable of scoring scrappy goals such as tap-ins.
One thing that has been at the forefront in Tottenham this year is Kane’s somewhat telepathic relationship with the Danish play-maker Christian Eriksen. Creating many Kane’s goals this year, Eriksen has proven that if the chances are created for him; Kane will deliver.
Should Kane get the opportunity to play for England, it will give him the chance to create a relationship like this with the likes of Sterling and Rooney, which could be a match made in heaven.
Finally Kane has a work ethic that the other strikers such as Welbeck and Berehino just don’t have. He has shown many times this year that he will work for his side. This is a major factor.
Although England have the players to play sunshine football, it’s no secret that they play in a tough, dogged manner particularly in important games. Kane has the ability to play both styles should it come down to it.
My starting XI
(4-2-3-1) Hart, Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Baines, Henderson, Carrick, Sterling, Rooney, Barkley, Kane