Harry Kane’s understudies told how to oust England star from starting XI as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi comparison made

Harry Kane’s understudies have been given a clear message on how to get more England game time… score more goals.

Kane is England captain and the country’s record goal scorer, but a few eyebrows were raised when he started the 2-0 victory over Andorra at Villa Park.

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The Bayern Munich striker did not get on the scoresheet and was given 4/10 by Adrian Durham in talkSPORT’s player ratings.

Kane has 108 Three Lions caps and 73 goals and will, by and large, play in every single game.

Former Chelsea defender Scott Minto argued that more faith needs to be given to the likes of Ollie Watkins, which will have long-term benefits on the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Minto said: “I’ve got nothing but respect for him (Kane). He’s not just a number nine, but he can drop in and be almost like a number 10. He’s a brilliant footballer as well as a goal scorer. 

“The last thing we need is Harry Kane to be playing every single game to the point where we go into another tournament. if he’s not playing well then it seems like we can’t drop Harry Kane.

“Because we didn’t drop him in the qualifiers and can we bring on Ollie Watkins who, okay, yes he’s not started well this season but what he did in the semi-final coming off the bench was brilliant.

“As he’s the number two in this particular squad, he needs to feel that he has belief from the manager. 

“I just think if Harry Kane’s starting both games, then at what point do you get that belief?

“My point is that Ollie Watkins needs to be shown faith.”

However, former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino argued that Kane’s understudies need to do more on the pitch.

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“Harry is the record goal scorer,” Cascarino told Weekend Sports Breakfast. “He keeps adding to that and you could argue that he wants to get more, wants to get to an even bigger one. 

“Cristiano Ronaldo has done that nearly all his career. [Lionel] Messi and Ronaldo, the top two players in the world, certainly over the last couple of decades, they’ve wanted to play all the time. 

“You’re scratching your head sometimes with Ronaldo because you think, how can he possibly play Armenia away? 

“He goes and wants to play. That is Harry’s in that mindset. So I understand it.

“Maybe whoever is number two has to do even better at club levels to have a chance of being used a bit more.

“There are players who just want to play every game.”

England will face Serbia on Tuesday in their next World Cup qualifier.