Roy Hodgson has attempted to “dampen down” the growing frenzy over Harry Kane by warning that he does not want simply to “throw in” England’s newest striker for fear that “he flies too close to the sun”.
Nevertheless the 21-year-old is poised to start England’s high-profile friendly away to Italy on Tuesday evening and is expected to partner Wayne Rooney in attack.
Danny Welbeck has joined Raheem Sterling in being sent back to his club – along with James Milner (knee) and Leighton Baines – after England’s 4-0 victory over Lithuania in Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier during which Kane made his debut and scored.
Immediately after the game Sterling had a pre-planned injection in a toe injury but should be available for Liverpool’s vital Premier League fixture away to Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime. With Daniel Sturridge injured, Liverpool need Sterling probably as a central striker. Welbeck is more of a doubt. Hodgson said that he had sustained a “slight” knee injury but the Arsenal striker admitted that he was feeling “sore” after “failing awkwardly”.
Danny Welbeck has withdrawn from the England squad ahead of the Italy friendly
Even before the withdrawals Hodgson had always planned to start Kane against Italy and despite his Icarus warning he admitted the Tottenham forward had become a “phenomenon”. “He’s got to be delighted he is being regarded as a phenomenon,” Hodgson said. “To get that type of reception when your name is called out and you’re called onto the field [at Wembley] is a bit of a dream come true. To make it really count by scoring a goal, it can’t get much better than that. I totally understand where people come from.
“I’m certain if I was just a fan I’d be shouting the same things. But when you’ve got a responsibility as a manager and a coach, not just to Harry Kane but to lots of other players, you have to think what’s best for everybody, what’s best for the team and what’s going to make it work.
Kane is expected to start against Italy while Raheem Sterling has returned to Liverpool
“We’re not going to hold him back, there’s no question of that. But I’m rather hoping I’ve got Harry Kane for a long period to come and I don’t want to be the one who throws him in and he flies too close to the sun. When someone has shone quite so brilliantly, that’s always in the back of your mind. You’re singing his praises enough so just allow me to dampen them down a little bit.”
England have a mapped-out plan for Kane’s development which includes him not being selected for the summer senior internationals – a Euro qualifier away to Slovenia following a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin – so that he can gain tournament experience as part of Gareth Southgate’s under‑21 squad in the European Championship in the Czech Republic in June.
Roy Hodgson (left) appeared happy enough with his side's defeat of Lithuania
Hodgson will take a squad of 20 – including three goalkeepers and Ryan Bertrand, who has been called up to replace Baines with Kieran Gibbs starting against Italy – to Turin on Monday.
There was another warning from Hodgson to Theo Walcott, who could start against Italy but who has struggled to feature regularly for Arsenal after overcoming a serious knee injury with his future at the club now uncertain. Ross Barkley could also start with Hodgson considering a change of formation, reverting to 4-4-2 with a diamond in midfield to accommodate Rooney and Kane as central strikers.
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