He’s got his call up, now England must start Harry Kane

His excellent performances have earned Harry Kane his first call up the England team, now Roy Hodgson must make sure he uses him.

Former Under 21s boss Stuart Pearce has spoken of how he wants Kane to remain with the youngsters over the summer with the European Championships a real target for the young Lions.

But Roy Hodgson has seen fit to reward the 21-year-old with a spot in the squad for the matches against Lithuania and Italy.

If the England boss wants to get the most out of Kane and really earmark him for a regular spot in the future, there is no better time to give the man from Walthamstow his first start against Lithuania.

He may have no experience in the senior team, but he has arguably been out-performing each of the other three strikers in the squad.

With 16 goals in 25 Premier League appearances this season Kane is the deadliest man in front of goal from these shores, five clear of Wayne Rooney himself.

But the Manchester United man isn’t the second top-scoring Englishman, not even the third.

Both Charlie Austin and Saido Berahino have netted more than the England skipper this season, so can perhaps feel hard done by having been left out of the 23-man squad.

Nurturing England’s future talent will be vital if the Three Lions are to qualify for and ultimately challenge for success next year.

And while the likes of Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley are sure to get plenty of exposure in the positions behind them, the likes of Kane, Berahino and Welbeck are the future for England’s frontline, so must be implemented to good use.

By all means send Kane off with Gareth Southgate’s squad to the Czech Republic in the summer and bring home a youth tournament, signalling intent for the years to come, but his embedding into the senior outfit must begin in earnest now.

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