Sunday 29 March 2015 07:14, UK
England manager Roy Hodgson has attempted to play down the hype surrounding striker Harry Kane.
The Tottenham star scored just over a minute after coming off the bench on his debut in England’s 4-0 European Qualifiers win over Lithuania on Friday.
Kane could start Tuesday’s friendly with Italy in Turin alongside Wayne Rooney, with Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck ruled out through injury and Raheem Sterling back at Liverpool nursing a toe problem.
But Hodgson was keen to take the pressure off 21-year-old Kane, insisting he is likely to remain in his long term plans.
"If I was just a fan I would be shouting the same things, but you have to understand that you have a responsibility as a coach - not just to Harry Kane but to lots of other players as well - that you have to think what is best for everybody," said Hodgson.
"What is best for the team, what is best for everybody, what is going to make it work?
“We are not going to hold him back, but on the other hand I hope I have got Harry Kane for a long period to come and I don't want to be the one who throws him in and he flies too close to the sun."
Hodgson is confident Kane has the right temperament to succeed in international football but has backed his and Tottenham’s stance of playing down his qualities in order to limit expectations of him.
"From what I've seen of him, what I know of the apprenticeship he's already served, when I look at the qualities he possesses as a football player, I've got no fears,” added Hodgson.
"I don't believe it (a loss of form for England) will happen. But I still think it's prudent of Tottenham and myself, where you're taking him one step further up, to not stand here singing his praises.
"You (the media) are singing his praises enough, so just allow me to dampen them down a little bit."
