This Premier League Star Is Set To Be Named As The New England Captain
Reuters / Eddie Keogh
Wayne Rooney’s days of leading the Three-Lions is about to cut short as England manager Gareth Southgate is set to make some significant changes.
If the report from Daily Mirror is the be believed, then Tottenham striker Harry Kane will be given the nod to lead the team from next year’s World Cup in Russia. It is all but certain that Rooney is past his prime and has become an error-prone player.
It’s not just the national duty, but the 31-year-old is also expected to leave the Old Trafford premises as his participation on the field has been very limited. And now Southgate believes that Harry Kane – who is currently recovering from an ankle ligament injury – has all the quality to become a leader.
“Harry has definite leadership qualities. He’s a very determined, single-minded individual, completely dedicated to improving and he’s having another outstanding season.
“He is in his third season now of playing at a very high level and getting high numbers of goals. It’s great. I mean I haven’t been able to bloody to pick him yet [Kane was also out injured for Southgate’s four games as interim manager in October and November]
“But it looks good for him. And for Tottenham and England. He’s vocal and Harry’s got an opinion, yeah. He’s always happy to speak up in front of the group. As are several others.
Reuters / Carl Recine
“I think I always encourage that amongst players. I think I want to know what they’re thinking. I want to encourage that.
“You then have to manage and deal with that because that can then go in directions you don’t always want it to as a coach. But if you’re prepared to open the floor up then I think it makes a stronger environment.”
Southgate further added that Liverpool midfielder Adan Lallana, Manchester United defender Chris Smalling and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling have the quality to wear the national armband.
“Adam Lallana has definitely impressed me as an individual too. Chris Smalling is captaining Manchester United at the moment but there are other players that talk up well in meetings.
“Raheem Sterling, for example, has impressed me with how willing he has been able to contribute in those sort of meetings with a view of things. I think we can be in a good place with all of that but I think that we have got to build on it too.”
