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England squad extend a warm welcome to new boy Harry Kane England squad extend a warm welcome to new boy Harry Kane
(about 14 hours later)
On the first occasion Wayne Rooney trained with England, aged 17 and back in his days as football’s original assassin-faced baby, he announced himself by taking the ball round a couple of defenders and chipping David James with the delicacy of a champion golfer holing from off the green. His new team-mates were so bewitched they broke into spontaneous applause.On the first occasion Wayne Rooney trained with England, aged 17 and back in his days as football’s original assassin-faced baby, he announced himself by taking the ball round a couple of defenders and chipping David James with the delicacy of a champion golfer holing from off the green. His new team-mates were so bewitched they broke into spontaneous applause.
Harry Kane eased himself in less spectacularly but, again, there hardly seems to have been a flicker of apprehension. Rooney has 101 caps, is closing in on Sir Bobby Charlton’s goals record of 49 and before training he was presented with the England player‑of‑the-year award. Then the practice session started on the blowy pitches at St George’s Park and the little piece of paper in Roy Hodgson’s hand firmed up the view that England will have a new-look attack in Friday’s game against Lithuania. The names of Rooney and Kane were alongside one another and both were circled.Harry Kane eased himself in less spectacularly but, again, there hardly seems to have been a flicker of apprehension. Rooney has 101 caps, is closing in on Sir Bobby Charlton’s goals record of 49 and before training he was presented with the England player‑of‑the-year award. Then the practice session started on the blowy pitches at St George’s Park and the little piece of paper in Roy Hodgson’s hand firmed up the view that England will have a new-look attack in Friday’s game against Lithuania. The names of Rooney and Kane were alongside one another and both were circled.
Kane will surely start England’s latest Euro 2016 qualifier and his presence has certainly enlivened the sense of occasion. “We’ve had only the one training session but you can see he’s got real presence,” Michael Carrick said of his new colleague. “I think he’s been sensational. If you look at the start of the season to now he’s jumped up a couple of levels at least. He’s maybe gone up two or three levels.”Kane will surely start England’s latest Euro 2016 qualifier and his presence has certainly enlivened the sense of occasion. “We’ve had only the one training session but you can see he’s got real presence,” Michael Carrick said of his new colleague. “I think he’s been sensational. If you look at the start of the season to now he’s jumped up a couple of levels at least. He’s maybe gone up two or three levels.”
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For now, Kane has been excused an audience with the media, the Football Association’s thinking being that he should not be overexposed. Everything Kane has done over the past few months indicates the 21-year-old would have handled it with no issue but there is a legitimate argument that if he is hyped too much the pressure on him to excel on his international debut could become a considerable weight.For now, Kane has been excused an audience with the media, the Football Association’s thinking being that he should not be overexposed. Everything Kane has done over the past few months indicates the 21-year-old would have handled it with no issue but there is a legitimate argument that if he is hyped too much the pressure on him to excel on his international debut could become a considerable weight.
“I do really hope people have a reasoned approach and give this guy a chance,” Hodgson said. “He is going to have some good games and some bad games and hopefully he has 10 to 12 years of potential England matches in front of him. Let’s not build him up to be the best thing we have ever had or a flop on the basis of a month or two or a couple of games. Give the lad a chance.”“I do really hope people have a reasoned approach and give this guy a chance,” Hodgson said. “He is going to have some good games and some bad games and hopefully he has 10 to 12 years of potential England matches in front of him. Let’s not build him up to be the best thing we have ever had or a flop on the basis of a month or two or a couple of games. Give the lad a chance.”
Gary Cahill made the same point but even then the warning came attached with a eulogy. “You’ve got to be careful,” Cahill said. “He’s still a young boy and being in the senior squad, with big players you don’t really know, can be daunting. It is easy to talk up a young player too much and I think we do that a lot in this country. But for me he has everything.Gary Cahill made the same point but even then the warning came attached with a eulogy. “You’ve got to be careful,” Cahill said. “He’s still a young boy and being in the senior squad, with big players you don’t really know, can be daunting. It is easy to talk up a young player too much and I think we do that a lot in this country. But for me he has everything.
“He can hold the ball up, he runs in behind, he has two good feet, he can head, he can finish, he has a bit of pace. Physically, he is strong enough. He has all the attributes and he has had a fantastic season. To meet up with the England squad for the first time, coming off the back of a hat-trick – his confidence must be absolutely sky high.”“He can hold the ball up, he runs in behind, he has two good feet, he can head, he can finish, he has a bit of pace. Physically, he is strong enough. He has all the attributes and he has had a fantastic season. To meet up with the England squad for the first time, coming off the back of a hat-trick – his confidence must be absolutely sky high.”
Cahill has personal experience of the damage Kane can wreak on defences, having been part of the Chelsea team who were beaten 5-3 by Tottenham at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day. Kane scored twice, set up another, won a penalty and caused Cahill and John Terry more problems than any other player this season.Cahill has personal experience of the damage Kane can wreak on defences, having been part of the Chelsea team who were beaten 5-3 by Tottenham at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day. Kane scored twice, set up another, won a penalty and caused Cahill and John Terry more problems than any other player this season.
“I’ve played against him three times and he has been a real handful but on that day in particular he was fantastic,” Cahill said. “You wouldn’t say he’s like a Gabby Agbonlahor but he’s powerful in his running. He is quick, a powerful boy and physically more than capable of playing in this league. The attributes are all there and he deserves his place in the squad.”“I’ve played against him three times and he has been a real handful but on that day in particular he was fantastic,” Cahill said. “You wouldn’t say he’s like a Gabby Agbonlahor but he’s powerful in his running. He is quick, a powerful boy and physically more than capable of playing in this league. The attributes are all there and he deserves his place in the squad.”
Does he deserve to start? Cahill is in the camp that says yes and it has reached the point where it would be more of a shock if a player with 29 goals this season was kept back. Wembley is sold out and Kane is the obvious draw. “We’ve got four top strikers all chomping at the bit to play and I’m sure he would relish the opportunity,” Cahill said. “That will be down to the manager but, for me, yes he’s ready to play.”Does he deserve to start? Cahill is in the camp that says yes and it has reached the point where it would be more of a shock if a player with 29 goals this season was kept back. Wembley is sold out and Kane is the obvious draw. “We’ve got four top strikers all chomping at the bit to play and I’m sure he would relish the opportunity,” Cahill said. “That will be down to the manager but, for me, yes he’s ready to play.”
Carrick, now the oldest player in Hodgson’s squad, has the same view. “Sometimes you see young players who have a good spell and then drop away, but I just don’t see that with him. You can see the progression. As the spotlight has grown on him, as he’s been talked about more and given more praise, and as defenders have started becoming more aware of him, he’s actually taken his game on and on. That is what has impressed me the most. At the weekend he had a big call-up and then you see him score a hat-trick. It’s a good sign, as if he thrives on that little bit of pressure and expectation.”Carrick, now the oldest player in Hodgson’s squad, has the same view. “Sometimes you see young players who have a good spell and then drop away, but I just don’t see that with him. You can see the progression. As the spotlight has grown on him, as he’s been talked about more and given more praise, and as defenders have started becoming more aware of him, he’s actually taken his game on and on. That is what has impressed me the most. At the weekend he had a big call-up and then you see him score a hat-trick. It’s a good sign, as if he thrives on that little bit of pressure and expectation.”
Carrick, 33, also made the point that England under Hodgson is generally a welcoming environment for new players. In different times, cliques have existed between the Manchester United and Liverpool contingents. The players will say that is no longer the case. “The squad now is an easy one to come into,” Carrick said. “We were talking about that between ourselves this morning. There’s a really good atmosphere. It’s almost like a club atmosphere. Go into the dressing room and the feeling is quite bubbly, energetic, but relaxed at the same time. So hopefully it’s an easy place to settle into and thrive.”Carrick, 33, also made the point that England under Hodgson is generally a welcoming environment for new players. In different times, cliques have existed between the Manchester United and Liverpool contingents. The players will say that is no longer the case. “The squad now is an easy one to come into,” Carrick said. “We were talking about that between ourselves this morning. There’s a really good atmosphere. It’s almost like a club atmosphere. Go into the dressing room and the feeling is quite bubbly, energetic, but relaxed at the same time. So hopefully it’s an easy place to settle into and thrive.”