Thursday 12 February 2015 17:18, UK
Ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Tottenham on Tuesday night, and with England hosting Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier next month, we ask who should start up front at Wembley: Harry Kane or Daniel Sturridge?
The case for Kane
Spurs striker Kane, 21, is currently in red-hot form after scoring two more goals to help beat Arsenal in Saturday’s north London derby at White Hart Lane, with his late winner a textbook header which Alan Shearer would have been proud of.
And that second-half brace means Kane has now netted 12 Premier League goals this season and 22 times in all competitions - which makes him the top-scoring English marksman this campaign. He has also scored eight times in 10 appearances for England U21's.
If you're purely looking at goals, form and experience this season, then it becomes difficult to argue Kane does not deserve to be handed his international debut.
The case for Sturridge
Liverpool forward Sturridge has only just returned to full fitness after missing most of this campaign with both calf and thigh injuries, with the 25-year-old having made only five league appearances for his club this season.
However, Sturridge was the leading English goalscorer in the Premier League last term after finding the back of the net 21 times for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
He has proven his ability on the international stage, having scored five times in 16 England appearances, and was part of a Liverpool side that finished in the Premier League's top two last term; experience Kane does not have.
All of which means England manager Roy Hodgson - who was at White Hart Lane on Saturday to run his eye over Kane - will have a selection headache when he decides who to lead the line against Lithuania on March 27 and in a friendly with Italy four days later.
Assuming he plays with one central striker, which of the forwards should get the nod?
What the stats say...
Kane has scored 15 goals in his last 20 league starts for Tottenham, eight with his right foot and five with his head, meaning the striker has hit the target on average every 120.53 minutes for his boyhood team.
Sturridge, though, has also netted on 15 occasions for Liverpool in his previous 20 Premier League starts, 10 of which came via his left foot and just two with his head, with the England international scoring once every 119.53 minutes on average.
What the experts say...
“I think at the moment on current form you would have to go with Kane, who has been outstanding,” said former Spurs and England midfielder Darren Anderton on Sky Sports News HQ.
“I love Sturridge as a player, but I have been there and know what it is like coming back from an injury, and he will be worried about breaking down at the moment. For me, it has to be Kane.”
Meanwhile, one-time Manchester United and Everton assistant manager Steve Round agrees with Anderton - but argues the duo might form a fantastic strike partnership.
“I really like Sturridge, he has great speed, intelligence, awareness and skill,” he told the Morning View. “He can score very, very good goals.
“But at the moment, Kane looks the real deal and what price Kane and Sturridge up front for England?
“They can play together. I think Sturridge can play with any centre forward as he is quite an intelligent footballer. And he likes to pull out on that right-hand side and assist as much as he scores.
“And Kane looks the same to me as well. He can drop off and receive the ball, a bit like Teddy Sheringham, or he can play right up the top and hold it up. He is good in the box and I think the boy has a really, really bright future.”
So who should start in attack in England’s next games against Lithuania and Italy? Would you start both? Where would you fit Wayne Rooney into the debate? If you are reading this on skysports.com, then have your say in the comments section…
