Popular pundit Paul Merson has claimed that Gareth Southgate’s team selection has had an impact on Harry Kane’s game.
Southgate stuck with attacking midfielders like Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish against Iran and all three midfielders prefer to take on players. That has forced Kane to drop deep and fetch the ball for himself.
Merson believes that the three midfielders tend to pass less and dribble more. It will be interesting to see if Southgate decides to change things around in the final third in order to help create more chances for his star striker.
Harry Kane has been in fantastic form for Spurs in the Premier League and he is one of the best finishers around. England will need him firing on all cylinders if they want to win the World Cup.
Merson has added that players like James Maddison and Mason Mount would complement Kane better and the Spurs ace would thrive on the service from them.
In a discussion with Lee Hendrie, Merson said (h/t HITC): “We have three dribbles there, so Kane will be coming short to get the ball because he’s not going to get past it.”
Hendrie added: “Saka’s got the put a good delivery into the box. Grealish has got to try and produce balls into Kane, so we have to have him sitting through the middle where he doesn’t (drop deep).”
Merson then stated: “I just can’t see them three giving him the ball. They are all dribbles. Maddison and Mount are the only ones who play on the half-turn and then bang, they play it. That’s what Kane needs. Maddison has done it with Vardy a lot. I have watched Mount a lot. He doesn’t mess about.”
England began their World Cup campaign with a 6-2 win over Iran. Goals from Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed an impressive win for the Three Lions in their group opener.
Kane failed to get on the scoresheet but England benefited from his creativity and movement in the final third.
