Paul Scholes has claimed that fans could be witnessing ‘the beginning of the end’ of Harry Kane after the striker was dropped for England.
Kane, 31, has come under criticism for his displays for the Three Lions this year and it recently resulted in him being left on the bench for their clash against Greece.
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was selected ahead of the England captain and many fans felt as though the national side offered a bigger threat with the 28-year-old up top.
Though Kane recently rubbished the idea that the 2026 World Cup will be his last major tournament with England, Man United legend Scholes thinks otherwise.
Speaking in the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Scholes said: ‘It felt like the end of Harry Kane [during the international break] – the beginning of the end. He looked out of place in the team.
‘When you get older you feel like everything happens a bit quicker around you and it looked a bit like that. But I don’t know how we’d replace him.’
Harry Kane’s England future has been called into question after the international break
England legend Paul Scholes insisted that ‘it’s the beginning of the end’ for the striker
Gary Neville then chimed in and said: ‘When you think back to the summer and the Euros, to be fair, he was struggling then as well, wasn’t he?’
Roy Keane then offered a counter-argument when he said: ‘He’s only 31! We’re talking about him like he’s 35 or 36’.
Scholes replied: ‘He just looks that way though, doesn’t he?’. Neville responded: ‘Alan Shearer, near the end, was a bit like that as well, wasn’t he?’
Scholes then said: ‘And he retired from England at 31!’.
Though Kane was dropped for the clash against Greece, he was reinstated into England’s front-line for their 5-0 victory over Ireland.
During the Nations League clash, the Three Lions skipper provided a stunning ball to Jude Bellingham which, in turn, earned England a penalty at Wembley.
However, Keane suggested that it’s still not enough for him to retain his place. ‘You can’t be in the team for one pass – as good as it was,’ he claimed on the podcast.
Kane has faced pressure from the likes of Watkins and Dominic Solanke, who both enjoyed impressive campaigns last term.
The Three Lions captain started on the bench for England’s recent clash against Greece
He returned against Ireland but looked somewhat sluggish and struggled with the pace
Nevertheless, Kane recently maintained that he has many international days ahead and dismissed the idea that the upcoming World Cup will be his final chance to win something with the national team.
‘I don’t think [it will be my last chance],’ he told Sky Sports. ‘There’s sometimes a perception when you get into your thirties that you’re coming to an end.
‘But for me personally I’m performing at the highest level I’ve ever performed and feel as good as I’ve ever felt so it’s about taking in the moment.
‘I don’t like to look too far ahead, in my career I never have. The World Cup is going to be exciting, in America it’s going to be an incredible occasion and ultimately it’s about to win that.
‘As always you look at where you and what you need to improve and that will no different in a couple years.’
Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was selected ahead of Kane up front for their win over Greece
However, former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel may be fond of Kane’s playstyle
Kane remains one of the first names of the team sheet because his goalscoring exploits remain among the best on the continent.
The Bayern Munich star took home the European Golden Shoe last season for his incredible debut campaign in Bavaria.
And he has begun this term in similar fashion, with 17 goals and nine assists in 16 games in all competitions.
He will be delighted to see his former Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel in the England dugout during the next international break in March.
Paul Scholes was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet
