HOW THIS COULD STILL PLAY OUT WELL FOR CAPTAIN KANE

IT WaS 20 years ago yesterday that, after coming back from four months on the sidelines, I was brought off the bench against newcastle by Gerard Houllier. I’d been itching to get on — and wasn’t too happy with Houllier for taking so long. I was made Liverpool captain ahead of 1999-2000 but had to have knee surgery midway through the season and was left with a feeling of helplessness. I’m sure Harry Kane has been experiencing that, too. He is one of Tottenham’s leaders, and England captain, but he has not been able to play since new year’s Day. Kane had to have an operation on his hamstring and was targeting a return ahead of Euro 2020, but we all knew the timeline was tight. That day against newcastle, I bagged an 88th-minute winner by rising above big Duncan Ferguson to score a rare header at anfield. There was an explosion of emotion. It felt like I was back. But it takes time to get up to full speed again. Players, nowadays more than ever, are seen as athletes. I managed four more appearances for Liverpool that season — then, in the summer, during an England training camp, my knee broke down again. It forced me out of Euro 2000 — I was crushed. my passport was stamped with so many destinations where I visited specialists from america and all across Europe. all I wanted to do was get fit and help my team but I couldn’t. So, perhaps, the one plus side to this summer’s European Championship being moved to 2021 is that it offers Kane time. England’s figurehead will not have to rush to get back up to full speed and he can find his feet in the Premier League before taking to the international stage.