Alan Smith has claimed that he doesn’t think, Tottenham boss, Antonio Conte will agree with the idea of Harry Kane playing for England against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
On Saturday, the Spurs striker etched closer to history when he struck his 49th goal for England during their 2-1 friendly win over Switzerland.
That puts the Tottenham hitman level-second with World Cup great, Sir Bobby Charlton, and three behind Wayne Rooney’s all-time record.
Possibly playing again in front of a packed-out Wembley crowd, there is every chance Kane might be raising his bat on Tuesday.
When Sky commentator, Martin Tyler, raised the idea of Kane getting into Gareth Southgate’s ear that he wants to start another friendly encounter, Smith doesn’t think his manager back in north London will agree with that idea, as he told Sky Sports.
“Number 50 (goal) will have to wait for another day,” said Tyler. “Maybe Tuesday. He will be in the manager’s ear saying ‘I have to play’.”
“I don’t think Antonio Conte will agree,” said Smith. “But, it’s been a game where he had few sights of goal. Yet, he still managed to find the back of the net.
“Job done really for him. And it puts him level with the great, Sir Bobby Charlton.”
More than likely, Kane will play some part against the Ivory Coast, and in truth, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he starts again, even if it is a friendly match.
But, whilst he went off with only a few minutes left on the clock against the Swiss, he might spend less time on the field of play tomorrow.
Tottenham fans are probably hoping he is rested altogether because they need their star striker firing for the final few months of the season.
Even though Conte and his players have an outside chance, they are seriously pushing for those Champions League places.
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