Jason Cundy has backed Harry Kane on talkSPORT to breeze past Wayne Rooney’s all-time goals record for England, as the Tottenham striker extracts everything from his game.
Kane will look to add to his Three Lions tally when Gareth Southgate’s side visit Poland in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday night. The 28-year-old recorded his 40th international goal in 63 appearances as England beat Andorra last time out.
His Wembley strike moved Kane to within 13 goals of Rooney’s England record of 53 in 120 caps. The Manchester United icon broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s 45-year record in 2015 after netting his 50th against Switzerland.
Former Chelsea defender Cundy believes Rooney underachieved and should have set Kane an even higher record to beat. Now, the Tottenham striker should breeze ahead to become England’s all-time top-scorer, despite not being the better player.
“He [Rooney] underachieved,” Cundy said. “How on Earth can Harry Kane be within touching distance of Rooney? How can he get close? He’s going to overtake Rooney. He’s not a better player than Rooney, I just think Rooney did not achieve his full potential.
“Rooney should be on 60, 70, maybe 80 goals for England. Kane hasn’t played anywhere near the [amount of] games as Rooney, but he is going to breeze it. That record for Bobby Charlton stood for 40-years, and Rooney is only going to hold this record for five, six, seven-years?
“Kane gets the absolute maximum out of his ability. Rooney, I don’t think has. It sounds harsh because of what he achieved in the game, but I don’t think it is that harsh. I genuinely believe that.”
Did Rooney underachieve for England like Cundy claims or has Tottenham star Kane just performed consistently throughout his international career?
Cundy has some reason to claim Rooney underachieved with England to support Kane’s candidacy for England’s goal record. The Manchester United legend, now Derby manager, only scored once in 11 World Cup appearances.
Kane, meanwhile, has six in six World Cup games and the superior record in qualifiers. The Spurs product has fired home nine in 10 – and counting – to Rooney’s 16 in 26. Kane has also proven more clinical in friendlies with five in 11 to 16 in 46. With Rooney only edging the £200k-a-week frontman in Euro fixtures with six in 10 to Kane’s four in 11.
Kane also has additional opportunities to represent England than Rooney through the UEFA Nations League. And if the Tottenham striker improves his record in that competition – with one in 12 games – the Three Lions’ record will easily fall into his reach.
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