Scoring on your England debut, the good and the bad...
Sunday 29 March 2015 07:44, UK
Harry Kane burst on to the international scene against Lithuania by scoring just 79 seconds into his debut, but hitting the net in your first game doesn't guarantee a prolific England career.
For every 63-cap Alan Shearer there is a one-cap Francis Jeffers. For every 53-cap Glenn Hoddle, a one-cap David Nugent.
Which route will Kane take? Here, we look back on England's goal-scoring debutants and how their international careers panned out...
The good……
Alan Shearer (England v France, 1992)
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The imposing England striker netted the first of his 30 goals in a 2-0 friendly win over France in 1992 when plying his trade for Southampton.
The goal was a classic Shearer effort, spinning his marker in the area before hammering home a strike on the turn to send England on their way to an impressive victory against one of the favourites for that year’s European Championships.
Sir Bobby Charlton (England v Scotland, 1958)
Wayne Rooney closed in on Charlton’s record against Lithuania by opening the scoring in the sixth minute to get within two goals of the 49-goal record.
The World Cup winner wasted no time in breaking his England duck on his debut, volleying home a perfect cross from Tom Finney as England thumped their rivals 4-0. Charlton then went on to make it three goals in two international caps when scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over Portugal.
Glenn Hoddle (England v Bulgaria, 1979)
Hoddle is arguably England’s most gifted player ever and set the tone for a successful international career by netting on his debut at Wembley. The goal was a spectacular one too, side-footing a first-time volley into the top corner from the edge of the area. Some would say it was vintage Hoddle.
The bad….
Francis Jeffers (England v Australia, 2003)
This game was far more memorable for Rooney breaking the record for England's youngest-ever player at just 17 years and 111 days old, and for the fact that England suffered an embarrassing 3-1 defeat. However, it’s a game that will live long in the memory of Jeffers, who made his only ever England appearance and also found the net, albeit the goal was nothing more than a consolation.
David Nugent (England v Andorra, 2007)
Leicester City striker Nugent joined Jeffers in the 'one-cap, one-goal' club by finding the net in the 93rd minute in this qualification game during the Steve McClaren era. After missing an easy chance minutes earlier, Nugent got his name in the history books by tapping home a goal-bound Jermaine Defoe shot from just one yard out.
Kieran Richardson (England v USA, 2005)
Richardson, staggeringly considering his goal record, found the net twice on his debut in a friendly across the Pond.
Firstly bending home a free kick from the edge of the area, before coolly slotting in a Joe Cole pass from just inside the area. Despite this impressive debut, he never started a game for England again.
