Gareth Southgate has told BBC Radio Five Live that he joked with Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane that Wayne Rooney’s family had been on the phone asking for him to come off.
Harry Kane closing in
Kane netted four goals in England’s 10-0 triumph over San Marino yesterday, as the Tottenham striker continued to close in on becoming his nation’s greatest every goalscorer.
Kane apparently pleaded with Southgate to let him start yesterday, as the Tottenham man was so keen to improve on his goalscoring record.
The Spurs striker would certainly have been grateful to his manager, as he hit the back of the net four times in a 15 minute spell in the first-half.
Kane actually was kept on after half-time to the surprise of many, but was taken off just before the hour mark.
At the time Southgate and Kane could be seen joking, and the England manager has now revealed the hilarious conversation which they had.
“I said to him Wayne Rooney’s family had been on the phone to get him off! He was going to go past about four leading goalscorers in one night,” Southgate revealed.
“We wanted Kane and Maguire and some senior players in there from the start to send a message.”
Just a matter of time
Even if Rooney’s family had wanted to protect their record last night, it seems just a matter of time before Kane catches it!
The Tottenham striker is now only six goals behind Rooney’s record and at the age of 28, he has plenty of time on his side.
Kane now has seven goals for England over the international break and the hope at Tottenham will be that he can carry that sort of form into the club season.
Kane actually has struggled in domestic action this term, and still only has one Premier League goal to his name.
Tottenham are next in action at the weekend, when they take on Leeds United.
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