The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Kane ‘excited’ by the inclusion of new boys
ENGLAND: Skipper says youngsters like Hudson-Odoi and Sancho can add flair
England captain Harry Kane is looking forward to seeing the added “flair and flexibility” brought to the squad by newcomer Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The 18-year-old Chelsea winger was promoted from the under-21 squad on Monday as a replacement for the injured Luke Shaw.
Hudson-Odoi is yet to start a Premier League game for the Blues and has not been capped at an age group above England Under-19s.
But he will take his place in Gareth Southgate’s ranks for the Euro 2020 qualification double-header against the Czech Republic and Montenegro.
The Under-17 World Cup winner is the latest in a line of young talent given a chance to shine in Southgate’s senior squad and he joins the likes of Jadon Sancho and fellow squad debutant Declan Rice in the latest squad.
Kane, having trained with Hudson-Odoi over the past two days, has been impressed by what he has seen so far and what he feels the precocious forward will bring.
“He has been great,” the Tottenham striker said.
“He wants to take full advantage of his opportunities and it looked like he was enjoying it out there. We are excited to have him.
“Competition for places is huge at the moment, everyone is fighting for a spot and the youth aren’t scared to go and express themselves, try their skills and try to score a goal and that is what we want.”
The flair and flexibility bought to the squad by the new faces is also added to with a sense of fearlessness, according to Kane.
Sancho, 18, scored a Panenka penalty in a training session shoot-out, leaving the Three Lions skipper impressed. “That shows the no fear,” he said. “We had a little sudden-death penalty shoot-out and he chipped his one down the middle, which takes a bit of bottle, especially at his age.”