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Tottenham striker Harry Kane to make first England start in Italy

Harry Kane: In Turin ahead of making his full debut
Image: Harry Kane: In Turin ahead of making his full debut

Harry Kane will make his first start for England in Tuesday night's friendly with Italy, England manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed.

The 21-year-old Tottenham striker impressed last week in the 4-0 win over Lithuania and called his debut goal for England "a dream come true" after scoring 79 seconds after coming off the bench at Wembley.

Hodgson declined to reveal his full team line-up, but said he was thrilled at the prospect of having Kane and skipper Wayne Rooney starting upfront in Turin.

"It’s nice to see both of them on the field together," Hodgson said. "They played a lot in training and I am pleased to see them playing together from the start. Harry certainly deserves his chance and I’m looking forward to the game.

"We are taking it very seriously. It’s a great opportunity for the players who haven't had a chance in the qualifiers to show they really deserve their place in the squad and that they’re good enough to replace the players I’ve been selecting before them.

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Roy Hodgson has confirmed Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane will both start in England's game against Italy on Tuesday night

"All friendly matches during qualification allow you to see where players are. It's an opportunity for players to impress both managers."

Hodgson's team will face the Italians on Tuesday night looking to avenge their World Cup defeat in Brazil last summer.

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The England manager will be without nine players from the squad which defeated Lithuania in their European Qualifier on Friday night, which means he is likely to start with a number of fringe players in an experimental line-up at the Juventus Stadium.

Tuesday night I think will be an excellent game. I know we are taking the game very seriously.
Roy Hodgson

"Every game we play is a valuable learning exercise," Hodgson said. "Our real test in friendlies matches will come when the qualifying period is over.

"We're hoping then that we'll have other prestigious international friendlies against top teams, like Italy. I think for both Italy and ourselves, the real test of where we are will maybe come when the qualifying period is over.

"We've got France to look forward to and we've got these preparation matches against teams of Italy's stature to measure where you are at this moment in time. At the moment, of course, it's slightly different during the qualification period because you have a squad of players and you want to use it.

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Watch Harry Kane score on his England debut against Lithuania at Wembley

"Tuesday night I think will be an excellent game. I know we are taking the game very seriously, I know Italy will take the game very seriously."

Hodgson's squad boasts a 100 per cent record in friendlies and European Qualifying games since their miserable World Cup campaign, having played seven and won seven, scoring an impressive 19 goals and conceding just two.

With his Italy counterpart Antonio Conte announcing his full starting line-up on Monday, Hodgson declined the request by Sky Sports football chief reporter Nick Collins to do the same.

Hodgson added: "I understand why Antonio has done that because this is a friendly match and it's a time to experiment with players.

"But if you really want to know our line-up you will have to wait until Tuesday night when the game kicks off."

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