Alan Shearer on Harry Kane - Newcastle United supporters will 100% disagree ahead of England vs Mexico
Alan Shearer has given his verdict on who he believes is the best English striker of all time.
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has crowned Harry Kane as England’s greatest striker.
The Three Lions skipper saved Thomas Tuchel’s blushes with a ruthless brace in midweek. Kane took his England tally to 84 goals from 118 games - 31 more than anyone else.
For context, Shearer - who also captained England and bagged the Golden Boot at Euro 96 - netted 30 times in 63 appearances. Currently playing for Bayern Munich, many believe Kane could return to the Premier League to attempt to break Shearer’s all-time record, where he sits 47 behind.
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Alan Shearer on Harry Kane
Unsurprisingly, most Newcastle fans would pick Shearer over Kane in a pub discussion. However, the Toon icon has backed England’s current captain as the country’s greatest ever.
“I would say Harry Kane is England's best-ever striker,” Shearer told Betfair. “You have to say that. I know the arguments will be Bobby Charlton and all of that, and I totally get it and understand that.
“Harry's goal record and the standard that he's set, he's a proper goal scorer, a proper centre-forward and has produced for England in big moments. Hopefully, those big moments are not going to be the last ones because, as I said pre-tournament, if England are going to go far, Harry's going to have to be in and around the Golden Boot and he is. Those two goals the other night just perfectly summed him up.
“The second one was a thing of beauty. Just the way he bought himself time, moved it into the space, didn't even have to look because he knew exactly where he was. I think it was just classic, brilliant centre-forward play. Everything about it was just first class. It was amazing to be there, amazing to see it.
“I've tried to do that, and I've looked at what he sort of did, and the way he swivels and everything else. It was just a thing of beauty to be there and see him do it.”
‘Irreplaceable’ - Alan Shearer
Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are Kane’s backup strikers but Shearer believes England could be in trouble once Kane retires. He added: “There isn't anyone yet that can replace Harry Kane when he retires from international football.
“I mean when you look at who's on the bench for England at centre-forward positions, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. Yes, they're good players but there's no way anyone can go in and fill Harry's boots because he's very, very special.
“Although we've got good centre-forwards, very good centre-forwards, there's no one like him that can produce what he does. That's one thing to look at for the next few tournaments. How long he can keep on doing it is another thing. Whether he'll be still doing what he's doing in two years' time, I don't know. It wouldn't surprise me. There's no one to come in and do what he's doing at the minute.”
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