5 England debuts to inspire Spurs’ Harry Kane against Lithuania

While the likes of Danny Ings and Charlie Austin can count themselves unfortunate to not have been called up for England no one can deny that Tottenham ace Harry Kane is deserving of his place.

The Spurs striker has smashed 29 goals in 43 appearances for the Lilywhites this term and after bagging a hat-trick against Leicester last weekend is now the Premier League’s top scorer.

And, with Daniel Sturridge being sent home from the England camp with a groin injury, it is looking extremely likely that the Spurs man will start both the Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and the upcoming friendly with Italy.

Kane is 10/3 to open the scoring and 4/5 to net at anytime and with the following five England debuts for inspiration there is every reason to believe he can carry his domestic form onto the international stage.

Dennis Wise v Turkey

Two years into what would prove to be his Chelsea heyday, Wise made his international bow in a must-win Euro 92 qualifier against Turkey. The battling midfielder scored the only goal of the game as the Three Lions earned a priceless 1-0 victory at the Izmir Ataturk Stadium.

It proved to be Wise’s only goal in a relatively short 20-cap England career though, so while Kane would be happy to emulate his debut the Spurs man will have his sights set on much greater heights.

Darius Vassell v Holland

While at Aston Villa Vassell reached double figures for the only time in his career in the 2001-02 season and was rewarded with a call-up for the Three Lions’ friendly with Holland.

After smashing in a bicycle kick equaliser in the 60th minute of the 1-1 draw the Villa man marked his debut with the man of the match award and a place in the World Cup squad that summer.

David Nugent v Andorra

Nugent made his England debut in similar circumstances to those that face Kane, in a Euro qualifier against extremely beatable opposition – Andorra.

Nugent scored the final goal in a 3-0 win by tapping in a goalbound effort from Jermain Defoe before it crossed the line. The current Leicester striker still dines out on his 100 per cent international record and while Kane would like to mark his bow with a goal he’ll be intent on smashing Nugent’s caps record by some distance.

Francis Jeffers v Australia

Like Nugent, former Everton and Arsenal man Jeffers boasts a 100 per cent goals-to-game ratio for England having played just once. Unlike the Foxes man though Jeffers could not inspire England to a win as they went down shock 3-1 losers to the Socceroos.

Again, Kane will not turn his nose up at netting on debut but any other inspiration from this game should be taken in the form of what not to do. Lose 3-1 to Lithuania and Kane might just have to settle for the one cap after all.

Alan Shearer v France

Finally a debut from a player that Kane would love to emulate. Three Lions legend Alan Shearer scored on his 1992 debut in a convincing 2-0 win against France.

The Southampton, Blackburn and Newcastle hero went on to score another 29 international goals from 63 total appearances and England have been looking to fill the void of a good old-fashioned number nine ever since – is Kane up to the task?

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