sport news England can't rely on Harry Kane forever... so what is the succession plan? trends now
It is a question we’ve all asked ourselves: where would England be without Harry Kane?
Hopefully - fitness permitting - we won’t find out for a few years yet.
At 29, Kane can conceivably lead the line for England at the next two major tournaments.
He’ll be close to turning 33 by the time the next World Cup gets underway.
The England captain has used his vast wealth to assemble a team of private practitioners compromising of physios, trainers and nutritionists - away from the Tottenham umbrella - to ensure his body is primed to cope with the rigours of professional football.
Harry Kane has become England's record goalscorer after netting his 54th strike on Thursday
Kane struck the winning penalty as England defeated Italy 2-1 at the Diego Maradona Stadium
But finding a successor for England's greatest ever goalscorer could become a big problem
The injury concerns that dogged the earlier stages of his career have dissipated and Kane looks as lean and athletic as he ever has.
Whose to say he still won’t be spearheading England’s attack at Euro 2028 at the age of 34?
Robert Lewandowski has shown that an elite striker can stay at the top well into his 30s. Kane is cut of a similar cloth.
But the historic night here in Naples on Thursday should certainly serve to focus the mind of those in charge of the England team’s future.
As much as they’d like the idea of it, they can’t rely on Kane’s brilliance forever. He’s been a gift for English football. But his legacy could well become a curse for those who come after.
The natural heir to Kane’s throne is Mason Greenwood. An outrageous talent for whom, like Kane, scoring goals comes easy.
But the idea of Greenwood playing for Manchester United again, let alone England seems, given the controversy that has engulfed his private life, rather far-fetched right now.
Also we should not forget that the one and only time Greenwood was called up into the senior England squad he let Gareth Southgate down dreadfully for his part in bringing two females back to the team hotel in Iceland.
Mason Greenwood has the talent but his off the pitch matters in his private life look unlikely
The Manchester United striker had been set for a highly promising career at Old Trafford
Phil Foden, who was also at fault that infamous night, has
