Beckham backs prolific Kane for England call-up
FORMER England captain David Beckham has joined the chorus hailing Tottenham striker Harry Kane as an international star in waiting.
Kane enhanced his growing reputation further by scoring both goals as Spurs beat Arsenal in Saturday’s north London derby, taking his tally for the season to 22.
He is tipped to earn his first senior England call-up next month for matches against Lithuania and Italy, and Beckham believes Kane is ready to prove himself on the world stage.
“The way he’s playing and the way he’s played this season, he’s having a stunning year,” Beckham, who attended the same Chingford school as the Walthamstow-born forward, said yesterday.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are – if you’re good enough then you should play. Everyone is singing his praises, and rightly so. He is 21 years old, he is working hard and has got a good head on his shoulders, so we will see.”
Kane’s prolific form is said to have caught the eye of Real Madrid, and Tottenham have shown their eagerness to retain the youngster by handing him two pay rises already this season.
He and Spurs face Liverpool at Anfield tonight in a clash of the Premier League’s two most in-form teams. Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs have won 10 of their last 15 games in all competitions to climb to fifth in the top flight and reach next month’s Capital One Cup final.
That sequence has seen them claim notable scalps in Chelsea, who they beat 5-3, and bitter rivals Arsenal, and Pochettino has the luxury of a fully fit squad to take to Merseyside.
Spurs are set to meet even more resurgent opposition, however, with Brendan Rodgers’ Reds unbeaten over 90 minutes since last year and now fortified by the return of England striker Daniel Sturridge. Brazil midfielder Lucas is out with a thigh injury but forward Raheem Sterling and playmaker Philippe Coutinho have shaken off minor problems sustained during Saturday’s goal-less draw with Everton.