Alan Shearer says Harry Kane will have to produce the goods at this summer’s World Cup in order to become a global star.
Kane is one of the Premier League’s top talents, winning the Golden Boot two of the last three years, and his 41 goals for Tottenham this season have seen him linked with a move to Real Madrid.
But former England striker Shearer believes a good performance for the Three Lions in Russia would take Kane to the next level.
“It’s a huge tournament for Harry because of what happened two years ago,” Shearer said at the BBC’s launch of their World Cup coverage.
“I am pretty certain he won’t be asked to take any corners in this tournament.
“To put himself on the global stage, he is known all around Europe obviously, but to put himself on a world stage he has to go out and perform and score goals in this tournament.
“Harry hasn’t looked his sharpest over the last two or three weeks, perhaps because of his injury, but he had two chances on Sunday and took them very well.”
Gary Lineker knows all about leading his country’s line at a World Cup, having done so with distinction in 1986 and 1990.
He reckons Kane has what it takes to deal with the pressure.
“He knows he is under pressure, he can handle it, he’s fine,” Lineker said.
“There are certain individuals that embrace that pressure and embrace that opportunity to show you can do it on the biggest stage and Harry is that sort of guy.
“At the same time, it’s tournament football, you have to hit form at the right time, things can go against you and then sometimes you can get a bit of good luck and everything you hit goes into the back of the net.”