Gareth Southgate says he wants Harry Kane to be crowned England’s greatest goal scorer at the same time as he fires his country to World Cup triumph.
The Three Lions striker moved up to second on the nation’s all time scoring list with his winner against Switzerland on Saturday.
It took his total to 49 - taking him level with Sir Bobby Charlton and four behind Wayne Rooney’s 53.
Kane is almost certain to break the record before Qatar at the end of the year - but when asked if he’d prefer to see the issue put to bed before the tournament, Southgate said: “I’d like him to break it in the World Cup Final.
“I think he’s quite calm about it. I think he’s confident that he can get there because his goals per game record is phenomenally good.
“I think he knows in his work there is always going to be speculation. If he doesn’t make it before then we will be saying he’s out of form, should he be in the team. So one way or another the focus will be on him. He is used to dealing with it. I’m sure he will be very calm about it either way.”
Southgate added that Kane has already proved himself among England’s greats.
He said: “The names that he’s in and amongst are incredible. He would appreciate that history and it would mean a lot to him to be in with those people and you’d have to say he looks favourite to go and do that and I don’t want to put a curse on that and say any more.
“He wants the team to do well as well so he’s got this dual drive.
“What’s great is that means whenever he turns up he’s also got that individual ambition. There’s never a camp where he doesn’t look like he wants to play or be involved or he doesn’t want to be in the forefront of things.
“That’s the mentality that then spreads through the rest of the group.”
