ENGLAND ALBANIA 7.45PM ITV Kane may be on brink of goal record but he never takes his spot for granted

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OF COURSE Harry Kane fears that his recent form means he is on the verge of being dropped.

After all, precisely the same motivation has inspired him to become one of the world’s most prolific strikers in recent years.

It has put him just two goals away from becoming England’s greatest ever scorer of competitive international goals – by overtaking Wayne Rooney total of 37.

And three more will take his tally to

12 for the calendar year, equalling Kane’s own record from 2019 – not bad for a player who is so universally considered to be “out of form”.

That criticism derives more from Kane’s recent

record with Tottenham, where he has scored just once in the Premier League since May.

“From my point of view, my attitude has always been to fear for my place, whether it be for club or country,” he said.

“The way you train and the way you prepare, you should always feel there is somebody trying to take your spot.

“That is why I always try to keep fit every game, stay healthy every game and play every game because every time you are not on the pitch is an opportunity for somebody else to take your place.

“I guess it comes down to perception and what people think, but in my head I have got to be ready as I could be replaced at any moment.

“I feel like if you get too comfortable and too complacent, all of a sudden somebody does

I feel that I could be replaced at any moment take your place and you are sitting on the bench wondering what happened.”

Kane has the added uncertainty of a new manager to impress back at Tottenham in Antonio Conte, left. The fiery Italian might just be what Kane needs to rediscover the goal touch that all but dried up under Nuno Espirito Santo.

“With the new manager coming in at club level, that gives everyone a lift, it gives a new spark to the team so I’m looking forward to working with him and getting to know him,” Kane said.

“But overall, yeah, I feel like mentally I am in a good place and I’m really ready to go over this tough period in the winter.” National manager Gareth Southgate, of course, he has known longer – it is nearly a decade since they first teamed up in the England Under-21 set-up. Diplomatically, though, Kane avoided an open goal to urge Southgate to commit to his Three Lions future beyond next November’s World Cup finals in Qatar. It is clear, though, that the England captain is rather keen for him to stay on beyond his current contract.

“That is obviously between the manager and the FA and as players we would never put pressure on a manager to make a decision before then,” he said.

“But I think I speak for a lot of players but personally I get on well with the manager – I think he has been great and his record at international level speaks for itself.

“And I still feel we are improving as a team. Semifinal in the World Cup, final in the Euros – we are heading in the right direction.

“Of course I would love him to stay but it will come down to him and the FA and his personal decision.

“I guess we will see how that

goes.”