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LONDON. — Harry Kane is expected to make his England debut in tonight’s 2016 European Championship soccer qualifier at home to Lithuania and already finds himself cast as English football’s potential saviour. With 29 goals for Tottenham Hotspur this season, the 21-year-old has become the English Premier League’s hottest property and his England debut is being billed as the most keenly anticipated since Wayne Rooney’s 12 years ago.

A graduate of Tottenham’s academy, who was born eight kilometres from White Hart Lane, Kane was loaned out to four different lower-league clubs before making his explosive breakthrough this season.

Amid a steady decline in the number of English players in the Premier League, Football Association chairman Greg Dyke cited Kane’s example this week as he warned about the dangers of denying promising young players opportunities.

“The question that needs to be asked is how many other Harry Kanes are there in the academies of English football who cannot get a first-team game?” asked Dyke, who is making it harder for foreign players to get work permits and has announced plans to increase the number of home-grown players in Premier League squads. An unassuming, happy-go-lucky character, Kane has repeatedly confounded expectations this season, netting doubles against Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as a first top-flight hat-trick against Leicester City last weekend.

England colleague Michael Carrick has branded him “the real deal”, but manager Roy Hodgson has warned supporters not to expect too much, too soon.

“I do really hope people in general will have a more reasonable approach and say, ‘Let’s give this guy a chance,’” said Hodgson, whose side also face Italy in a friendly in Turin on Tuesday.

“’He is going to have some good and bad games and hopefully he will have 10 or 12 years in the Premier League and England matches in front of him. Let’s not build him up to the best thing we have ever had or a flop on the basis of a month or two or a couple of games or so.’

“But I am delighted for him. If he gets his chance to play in these games, I am sure he won’t let anyone down.”

With Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge sidelined by a hip injury, Kane could be asked to lead the line alongside captain Rooney as England look to preserve their 100 percent record in Group E. — AFP.