Wayne Rooney cheered by Harry Kane`s England emergence
England captain Wayne Rooney paid a glowing tribute to his new international colleague Harry Kane on Thursday, saying the Tottenham Hotspur striker`s emergence was "great for English football".
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London: England captain Wayne Rooney paid a glowing tribute to his new international colleague Harry Kane on Thursday, saying the Tottenham Hotspur striker`s emergence was "great for English football".
He will make his debut either in Friday`s 2016 European Championship qualifier at home to Lithuania or Tuesday`s friendly against Italy in Turin and Rooney is excited about lining up alongside him.
"First of all, the season he`s had has been incredible," Rooney told a press conference at the England team hotel in Watford, north of London.
"His first season in the Premier League, to score the goals he`s scored, and his performances have been excellent. He fully deserves his call-up to the squad.
"You`ve seen over the last few days (in training) that he`s a goal-scorer; if he has a chance, he`ll finish. It`s great for English football to have someone performing like he is."
Hodgson, however, refused to reveal whether Kane will start Friday`s Group E game against Lithuania at Wembley, where England will seek to preserve their 100 percent record in the group.
"I`m not prepared to reveal that or give out our line-up," the manager said.
"We`re very happy with Harry. I can certainly say he`s not in any way damaged his chances of playing and I`m pretty sure over the course of these two games, we`ll see him make his debut.
"But I`m not prepared to give my selection away and when that is (that Kane plays), people will have to wait and see."
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster, left-backs Luke Shaw and Danny Rose and Liverpool pair Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge have already withdrawn from the squad due to injury, but Hodgson reported no new fitness concerns.