England’s alarming lack of a successor to Harry Kane is an increasingly pressing concern ahead of the next World Cup.
Bayern Munich’s star striker admitted it is “too early to say” whether he will play in the competition’s centenary edition after England’s soul-crushing defeat to Argentina.
Kane has spearheaded the Three Lions’ success in major tournaments in recent years, scoring six goals en route to winning the Golden Boot in 2018, and has matched that tally this summer with some key goals to keep England’s hopes alive.
But he will be 36 by the time the next World Cup takes place, and although he will be leading the charge at his home Euros in two years’ time, subsequent competitions could be a step too far for the former Tottenham frontman.
The question is not who will lead England now, but who will lead them when Kane is no longer available.
Manager Thomas Tuchel’s reluctance to use Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney has been blamed for Kane’s decline in quality.
The former played six minutes as a substitute in England’s match against Panama, while Toney was brought on in a desperate situation in the dying seconds of England’s game against Argentina, looking for an equalizer.
Both will be 34 years old at the next World Cup, but despite their good form at club level, they have yet to consistently emulate that success in a Three Lions shirt and, like Kane, may surpass their best in 2030.
Watkins (left) has been a substitute for most of this World Cup (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)
Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were two other strikers appointed by Tuchel last year, but neither were deemed worthy of a spot on the plane to North America.
Liam Delap was tipped to be Kane’s heir to the throne after scoring an outstanding 12 league goals for relegated Ipswich Town in 2024, earning him a move to Chelsea. However, he has yet to find his footing and may look for pastures new this summer after a difficult campaign.
The only viable option at the moment would be a makeshift striker. Probably Anthony Gordon or Marcus Rashford, but in a more senior position Jude Bellingham could be an exciting proposition.
The England international’s bright light this summer shone high up the pitch in his first training camp with Real Madrid, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists and could be an option in 2030. However, placing him up front would mean sacrificing valuable influence in midfield.
The U-21 team has provided the backbone of up-and-coming talent in recent tournaments, where the likes of Elliott Anderson and Jarrell Quansah honed their skills.
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Eddie Nketiah is expected to continue in that vein and shone for the youth team, becoming the club’s record scorer with 16 goals and scoring the winning goal in front of goal. The 2023 call-up has scored just five Premier League goals in the two seasons since joining Crystal Palace, raising questions about whether he can rediscover his best form.
And there is little cause for optimism in the fledgling talent currently assembled in the striker department.
Devin Mbama scored five goals in the Championship during his season-long loan to Stoke City last season, while Will Lankshear impressed with 12 goals for struggling Oxford United.
The Tottenham youngster appears to be the most promising young option and could be integrated into manager Roberto De Zerbi’s new squad this season.
Romain Esse, Joel Ndala, Thomas Watson and Samuel Amo-Ameyo are all part of Lee Carsey’s latest squad and, although they have not yet proven themselves at club level, could be options for the future.
Essentially, the harsh reality is that batting options in England’s youth teams are so limited at the moment that an aging Harry Kane may still be the best option if heading to Spain, Portugal or Morocco.
However, an important argument to consider here is that it is not uncommon for players who have hitherto been far from the international stage to suddenly emerge as protagonists.
Elliott Anderson was playing for Bristol Rovers just four years ago (Image: Getty Images)
Anderson is a prime example, with the midfielder being loaned to Sky Bet League One side Bristol Rovers when England head to Qatar in 2022. Jed Spence played a starring role this summer after struggling for minutes at Tottenham, while Morgan Rodgers, who scored the opening goal against Argentina, was fresh off an unsuccessful loan spell at Bournemouth.
The lesson here is that while Kane’s replacement striker may not be clear at the moment, there is a good chance that a strong candidate suddenly emerges for the next World Cup.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that the eventual replacement of England’s all-time leading scorer will have a huge legacy to live up to, and that Kane himself may feel he has one last World Cup in him.
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