Harry Kane is undoubtedly a legend, but it’s unlikely that he’ll improve much further. He should adopt a mindset more similar to that of Erling Haaland.

TalkSPORT’s Jermaine Pennant believes Harry Kane should emulate Erling Haaland and refrain from dropping too deep during matches.

The Bayern Munich star led England to a convincing Nations League victory over the Republic of Ireland, marking a successful debut for interim manager Lee Carsley.

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Despite the team’s success, Kane’s impact was limited, with Declan Rice and Jack Grealish netting the goals in England’s 2-0 victory.

Pennant pointed out that Kane’s tendency to drop back instead of positioning himself in the box may have contributed to this underwhelming performance.

« Watching him, he was dropping far too deep, » Pennant stated during the GameDay Phone-In.

When host Jason Cundy proposed that Kane might have been instructed to do so, Pennant disagreed, asserting that Kane has historically preferred coming back to collect the ball and initiate plays.

« He enjoys making those great passes to kick off an attack, but that leaves him underutilized up front, » he added. « He needs to adopt a more Haaland-like mentality now. »

Pennant stressed that Kane may not possess the same agility he once did, recommending that he should prioritize getting into scoring positions.

Expanding on his critique, Pennant suggested that perhaps the best years of Kane’s career are behind him, indicating that management should be contemplating alternatives at the striker position for England.

« In another two years, he’s going to be 33, » Pennant noted. « He’s likely to decline rather than improve before the World Cup, and I would prefer not to rely on him as our key player then. »

Pennant acknowledged Kane’s legendary status and impressive contributions as a goal scorer and captain for the national team.

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« I’m not suggesting he’s a bad player; he’s had an outstanding career. However, it seems we’ve reached a point where, in two years, he won’t be able to perform at his current level. »

Pennant posed a provocative question: « When was the last time you saw Kane deliver a standout performance for England, not just score a goal? »

« It’s been a significant number of games since he had a truly impressive outing, » he added.

While acknowledging Kane’s presence in the squad, Pennant emphasized the need for fresh talent like Ollie Watkins, who brings a faster, sharper edge to the game. « Watkins doesn’t retreat to the edge of the box to retrieve the ball, » he observed.

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Cundy pointed out the challenge of replacing Kane, suggesting that if Carsley is appointed as head coach, a tactical shift may be necessary for England. Pennant countered, noting that Carsley managed to win the European Championship with the U-21s without relying on a traditional striker.

Kane proudly holds an impressive 99 caps for England, making his debut in March 2015. He was named the Three Lions’ captain in 2018 and claimed the Golden Boot at the World Cup that same year, scoring six goals. Currently, he holds the record for the most goals scored for England, netting 66 times for his country.

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