Saturday 28 March 2015 11:32, UK
England manager Roy Hodgson led the plaudits for Harry Kane after his ‘fairytale’ international debut in their 4-0 victory over Lithuania.
Strikes from Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Raheem Sterling had put England firmly in control of their Group E qualifier before Kane marked his debut with a goal just 78 seconds after coming off the substitutes bench.
And Hodgson, while urging a degree of caution over Kane's fledgling career, was full of praise for the Tottenham striker who he believes has a bright future ahead of him.
“The word fairytale comes to mind,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s great when fairytales come true in this way.
“I’m delighted for him, he’s had a good week in training and we’ve been quite excited to see him.
“The way the game panned out it was an obvious decision to put him on and sure enough, after 80 seconds, he scores his goal.
“That’s wonderful; I’m delighted for him and let’s hope it’s the start of a good and a long England career.
“But let’s keep things in perspective, for him it’s been a whirlwind romance in terms of playing top-class football and, if anything, I would like to try and relieve the pressure on him rather than heap pressure on him.
“Harry is a player who won’t come and go, he is one who is here to stay. Because he is here to stay I don’t think the enormous clamour to start him in the next game is not necessary.”
England’s next fixture sees them head to Turin for a friendly with Italy on Tuesday, a repeat of the 2014 World cup group stage game.
And Hodgson hinted Kane could make his first Three Lions start at the Juventus Stadium after a number of attacking players picked up injuries at Wembley.
“It could well happen because we’ve got quite a few injuries,” Hodgson added.
“We’ve not got Sterling in the next game, Welbeck got injured, I don’t know the extent of that injury, so his chances increase all the time.
“I would like to think we can manage him as he needs to be managed. We’re looking to give him the foundations to have a long England career.
“The three strikers I chose from that start tonight are of quality, and Harry is of the quality to be in there alongside them and match them and compete for places with them.”
