Callum Wilson says he's saving his first England goal of the World Cup for a bigger game as he waits in the wings to replace Harry Kane. England's captain is yet to score at the tournament, with a contingent of Magpies supporters hoping Wilson is given a chance to start for Gareth Southgate's side.
The Three Lions look a different side, pressing from the front with the Newcastle number nine on the pitch, but Kane is one of the best strikers in world football. A selection headache Southgate is currently dealing with.
Speaking after the win over Wales, which sees England through to the knockout stages of the tournament, Wilson told ITV: "It's a good night, a special one. One that we needed to respond in after the last game. The performance was a little bit flat so, today we knew if we focussed on the performance then the result would then come off the back of it.
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"Thankfully we did that and we're through to the knockout stages. The first-half was a little bit hit and miss, we had a few opportunities and then once the goal went it, it was almost like our confidence went through the roof and it took the energy out of them.
"We hit them with a goal straight after that and all of a sudden the game is more open and players like myself can come on the field and try stretch it and get more opportunities to score. We managed to get three on the night."
Wilson unselfishly set up Jack Grealish against Iran for England's sixth goal and said he's hopeful more opportunities will come his way as a result. There was a moment in the second-half where the Toon striker was in acres of space inside the box, but Marcus Rashford went for goal, and fortunately for the England winger, scored his second goal of the game.
When asked if he felt he should have scored against Wales, Wilson said: "No, that would be selfish of me to say that but, I think you come on the field you want to do well and I just found myself in the positions where I was having to pass it to other people. The goal kept closing up and other people were in better angles and positions.
"As a striker you make a decision on the field for the team and that's what I tried to do with Marcus, tried to do with Jude and I was waiting for that one opportunity for myself but maybe I'll save the goal for a bigger game."
Pressure is beginning to mount on Kane to produce the goods in front of goal as, despite his three assists so far this tournament, the Spurs striker is yet to score. On the other side of the coin, Kane leads the way for the most goal contributions of any player at this World Cup and the last.
"I think the key is to be here and enjoy the moment," said Wilson. "Be ready for the opportunity, I'm training well and so is everybody else. They're pushing each other so it gives the manager a difficult decision.
"For me, I have the captain, a great, unbelievable striker who's in my position. You have to wait your turn, you have to wait your time and when that opportunity comes around you have to be ready to make an impact on the game and that's what I'm trying to do when I get opportunities on the field.
"It's all about keeping your feet on the ground, enjoying tonight, we'll analyse Senegal - their strengths and weaknesses - and we'll see how we can implement our style on the game and we want to progress. It's all about focus on the process and the result should come off the back of it."
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