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Dominic Calvert-Lewin can offer alternative to struggling Harry Kane

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Image for Dominic Calvert-Lewin can offer alternative to struggling Harry Kane

Things can change quickly in international football and at major tournaments.

Going into the European Championships this summer, there isn’t any England supporter who would have named the team’s best XI without Harry Kane spearheading the charge.

But two games in, having had no shots on target and created just one chance, there are questions over the physical condition and focus of the England captain, who has been substituted in both of the team’s first two matches.

Although it would be a huge surprise to see Kane dropped from the XI for the upcoming matches, his struggles could open opportunities for others. Such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Remarkably, as England toiled in attack throughout Friday’s 0-0 draw with Scotland, manager Gareth Southgate opted against bringing on the Everton forward late in the game to try and snatch a goal. That despite the fact Calvert-Lewin netted 16 times in the Premier League last term.

If England are in a similar situation in upcoming matches, they shouldn’t hesitate to turn to the 24-year-old.

Calvert-Lewin may not be as lethal a finisher as Kane, but he offers more of an aerial threat, more mobility at the top end of the pitch and is excellent at bringing others into play with his back to goal. Against a tiring defence, he could be a nightmare to contain.

Calvert-Lewin would have been looking at the game against the Czech Republic as his chance to start at Euro 2020, hoping that England would have had top spot in their group already secured and a flurry of changes would be made as a result. After the draw with Scotland, Southgate may have to go with something close to his strongest XI.

That may mean that Calvert-Lewin has to sit on the bench again. But with more attacking intent required from England and a starting centre-forward clearly out of sorts at the moment, it’d be wise for the Three Lions to start making more use of the Everton star.

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  • JOHN BROOKS says:

    Can’t rely on sentiment. If Kane isn’t delivering, and doesn’t look like he’s going to deliver, time for a change. Calvert Lewin offers a new pivot, Kane always looks slightly wooden in his play but Calvert Lewin is very fluid.

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