World Cup 2026: Life after Harry Kane – are England facing a false nine future?

England were lucky when it came to the end of Wayne Rooney’s international career.

Just when he was in decline, Kane broke into the international squad in 2015, replacing the Manchester United striker by scoring 80 seconds into his debut against Lithuania.

This was the perfect passing of the baton from the current record holder to the future record holder.

England don’t seem to have the same luxury, but it’s worth considering Kane’s career path.

Unlike Rooney at Everton or Michael Owen at Liverpool, Kane did not make his debut with his club in his youth.

Kane had to learn his trade during loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City.

Kane did not have the chance to play for Tottenham until the 2014-15 season, when he was 21 years old, during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure as manager. It looked as if he had managed to score 21 goals in the Premier League and 32 in all competitions.

There are countless stories of prolific academy forwards who never made it to the top level in senior football.

Take Charlie McNeill, who scored 110 goals and made 38 assists in 72 games for Manchester City’s youth teams.

He was transferred to Manchester United and became the club’s second player to score 20 goals in a season at academy level.

Nevertheless, McNeill made his first appearance for the club as a substitute in the Europa League match against Real Sociedad in September 2022. He is now 22 and plays for Sheffield Wednesday in League One.

Eddie Nketiah is the England Under-21 team’s all-time top scorer with 16 goals, but has failed to shine since his move from Arsenal to Crystal Palace. He has scored just five goals in the Premier League in two seasons.

England have plenty of wide forwards or number 10s at youth level – Arsenal’s Max Dowman and Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha are two – but very few number nines.

The system seems to be trying to produce more technical players rather than strikers.