Greg Dyke says Harry Kane wants to play for England U21s

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke claims Harry Kane's agent has told him that the Tottenham striker wants to play at this summer's U21 European Championship.

Kane has had a sensational season for Spurs, having gone from third-choice striker at White Hart Lane to the talk of the English game.

Kane has scored 30 times in all competitions for Tottenham this season and last month added another chapter to his fairytale rise at Wembley, where he required just 79 seconds to mark his senior England debut with a goal.

Roy Hodgson said at the time that the striker's maiden senior call-up does not preclude him from this summer's U21 championships, which the England boss says Kane wanted to go to in order to "finish the job".

It is not a done deal, given Spurs’ fears about burnout, but FA chairman Dyke claims he has been given assurances by the player's agent.

"We want young English footballers to want to play for England," he said. "It is an important part of their development.

"Playing for the first team, the England first team, is the ultimate for a footballer or at least should be and that's what we want.

"Playing for England matters and young English footballers should feel that it matters - that they can play for their club but they also want to play for England.

"I got a call from Harry Kane's agent recently just to say how much he enjoyed playing for England and how much he wants to play for the U21s this year in the tournament, in the Euros.

"And I think that's important. If you're a young English boy coming through the system, you should want to play for England."