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Harry Kane an example for young players to follow, say the Sunday Supplement panel

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The Sunday Supplement panel hailed the feel-good factor that Harry Kane has brought to the England team

England striker Harry Kane is a fantastic example for other young players, according to the Sunday Supplement panel.

The 21-year-old took less than two minutes to score his first international goal as he made his debut in England's 4-0 win over Lithuania on Friday night and has been in phenomenal form for Tottenham since establishing himself in the starting lineup.

However, things have not always gone so smoothly for Kane and Henry Winter believes it is his application as much as his ability that have enabled his meteoric rise this season.

"Everyone you talk to at Spurs, they just rave about Harry Kane as a person and as a footballer," said the Daily Telegraph's Football correspondent.

"They admire the way he has fought back, they saw him come through the ranks, he was very good with the U18s and then he went out on loan.

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Kane scored 79 seconds into his England debut from the bench as Roy Hodgson’s men beat Lithuania 4-0

"One of the reasons why it has struck a chord, maybe to kids generally but particularly to the younger generation of footballers, is that he has shown that a pathway can develop if you push for it.”

The Sunday Mirror’s Sports Columnist Andy Dunn agreed, highlighting the work Kane has put in to improve his game and overcome certain limitations.

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"If you speak to people who coached him through all those developmental years, everyone always used to say he lacked half a yard of pace and he's worked on that," he explained.

"When he was out on loan, he was being used as a target man, a hold-up man and that clearly isn't his game. He's adapted his game and the coaches have adapted his game and he is a good striker, a good finisher."

There is a footballing intelligence in him (Kane) that you don't always necessarily see with a young player.
Henry Winter

Winter also spoke of the Spurs forward's "footballing intelligence" that belies his years, although he also advised caution when it comes to expectations placed on Kane.

"There is a footballing intelligence in him that you don't always necessarily see with a young player," he remarked.

"The positions he takes up... we've seen it with his interplay with Christian Eriksen, when Eriksen comes in off the left, Kane will move out there to keep the shape and create space for Eriksen. So England have got a fabulous prospect there.

"Next season he will be doubled marked, teams will set up to play against him. You saw what Mourinho did to stifle Eriksen and cut off the supply line to Kane at Wembley, so he'll have that.

"What I like about him though is that whenever he has faced adversity he has gone again, he has tackled it and moved on. That is why I think he is a great prospect, but I do think we all need to calm down a bit."

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