Harry Kane’s sensational club form has led to a first international call up from manager Roy Hodgson, with the Spurs forward set to make his 3 Lions debut vs Lithuania on Friday.
Kane’s rise has been rapid and dramatic. Having started the season as a squad player, he is now Tottenham Hotspur’s key man and an indispensable asset for the North London club. England manager Hodgson was an impressed spectator on Saturday, as the hot shot grabbed his very first career hat trick vs Leicester City, in his latest eye catching showing.
Daniel Sturridge’s injury concerns may pave the way for a first cap later on in the week. Facing modest opposition such as Lithuania, having virtually sealed their qualification for the 2016 European Championships already, may provide the perfect atmosphere for a young player to enter the biggest stage of all. Although there is very rarely a pressure free game for any player that puts on the White Jersey of England and the considerable hype surrounding the player, will mount large expectation on the young mans shoulders to make an immediate impact.
The 21-year old is already having to deal with being the main man at club level and this could soon be the same for his country. You worry about the repercussions this could bring to a man so young. However, so far he has taken it all in his stride impressively and most seem to be getting behind him, willing the forward to succeed. Already he appears to be a favourite with the British media – being a really relatable character for many on lookers.
Kane’s is a story that has given hope to a nation and to homegrown players, who may have previously lost faith in the academy system. Premier League clubs have failed to hand youngsters a fair chance in recent years, mainly due to the mass influx of foreign stars in the division. This is a buck to that trend.
Amongst all the negativity towards English football, his rise has been inspirational and proven that the talent may be there in our academies after all. The message is that young players need to be given ample opportunity to shine and you may well reap the rewards. The modern game, particularly in England, has been devoid of such pure tales in recent times.
The stage is seemingly set for Kane to make his eagerly awaited international debut and to live out a childhood dream. Wembley will provide a fitting venue for such a special occasion in the career of Tottenham’s new hero and Lithuania perhaps are the perfect opposition to announce your arrival at this level in style!