Roy Hodgson says he’s “delighted” by the form of Harry Kane and believes the Tottenham Hotspur frontman has all the right attributes to be a senior international striker.
The 21-year-old just can’t stop scoring right now, and while Hodgson has been impressed by his knack of finding the net, he puts much of it down to pure hard work.
Kane has bagged 23 goals in 35 games for Spurs this season and has added five more to his England Under-21s haul this term.
Harry Kane celebrates his winner against Arsenal
And Three Lions boss Hodgson reckons Kane's performances are deserving of a call-up to his Three Lions squad.
“Harry's flying at the moment,” said Hodgson when he chatted to press on Thursday as he looks ahead to England’s next game against Lithuania at Wembley on 27 March.
“I’m delighted for us and I’m delighted for the lad as well because he looks like the kind of player who’s had to work hard for his successes - it’s not something that has come overnight.
“If you can be a star of a top team like Tottenham at 21, then you’re doing pretty well.”
“He’s got the qualities you are looking for in a centre-forward”
Roy Hodgson on Harry Kane
The England boss continued: “He’s got the qualities you are looking for in a centre-forward, he goes both ways.
“He’s quite prepared to take part in the build-up play, run the channels, receive the longer balls, fight with the centre-halves. He’s also prepared to make those runs into the box. He’s good at attacking crosses, he’s good at making the little short runs to get played in.
“Really, he combines everything you are looking for in a centre-forward.
“Is he worth a place in the squad? Yes, of course he is. We’ve brought a lot of young players in, so he certainly deserves a place.
“But if you say ‘is he worth a place vis-à-vis Wayne Rooney, Welbeck, Sturridge’, that’s something he’ll have to prove. Unless I give him a chance in the squad he’ll never get a chance to prove it.”
As well as Kane, Hodgson has also been impressed by his Under-21s team-mate Danny Ings.
Danny Ings scored another at Old Trafford on Wednesday
Ings has been enjoying his first season in the Premier League and although his Burnley side are currently sitting in the relegation zone, the striker has been doing his best to maintain their top-flight survival with nine goals in 24 outings.
And Hodgson says that, like Kane, Ings is capable of adapting his style of play to suit the situation.
“Sometimes we’ve had to split centre-forwards up: this one’s a target but doesn’t run behind, this one runs behind but he’s not much of a target,” he said.
“But with Harry and with Ings you’ve got the best of both worlds because they do both jobs.”
Hodgson added: “I’m pleased that so many of these young players are getting chances in their teams. Going back three years it wasn’t quite so usual but it seems now that managers are prepared to give talented youngsters their chance.
“But I also like to think that I’m prepared to give someone a chance who is showing, with his current form, that he’s worth a place with us.”
