KANE: I’VE BEEN SUBSTANDARD

Three Lions ace admits he’s struggling after shock Wembley substitution

HARRY KANE is stuck in a rut after being left in uncharted territory.

The England captain is not used to being substituted.

It is mid-October and he has yet to score a Premier League goal in six games.

And most startling of all, even Kane admits he is not playing well – which is something he does not do.

Kane’s struggles were there for all to see as England drew 1-1 with Hungary at Wembley on Tuesday night and there was a genuine gasp of disbelief when Gareth Southgate replaced him in the second half.

The Spurs striker hates missing a single minute, to such an extent last season he started and scored in a game despite being ruled out through injury in the morning.

Managers go along with it because he usually delivers and he is, after all, the current Premier League Golden Boot winner. But the summer saga over a proposed move to Manchester City has clearly taken its toll.

Kane, 28, looks sluggish, short on confidence and, despite scoring for England last month and also in the Carabao Cup and Europa League for Spurs, it is unthinkable he is not off the mark in the league by this stage.

Until now, Kane has been unwilling to hold his hands up when he is not playing well. He was adamant in the Euros that, despite not scoring early on, he was feeling fine. Now, finally, Kane has admitted that he is struggling.

“Performances for club and country maybe haven’t been there the last few weeks but there is no need to panic,” he said after a blank against Hungary (above).

“I am confident in myself, confident in the teams I play in and that is the way it goes.

“I am in a good place. I know there has been a lot of talk. I have still scored nine goals this season.

“I working as hard as I can for the team. When the chances come I am confident I will put them away.

“It is natural people think like that. I am my own biggest critic. I put the most pressure on myself to deliver and perform well.

“It was the first game in 15 qualifiers I didn’t score. Not the end of the world. Everyone who knows me well knows I am confident every time I play and I will be ready for the next one.

“I’m as clear as anything. There is a lot of noise around me. When you are a high-level sportsman sometimes that is the case.

“It is how you deal with that. I have good people around me, good friends and family, good teammates, good coaches.

“Every time I step on the field I give 110 percent for club and country.”

Gareth Southgate (right) backs him, insists he is training well and there is competition for places.

But Kane did not have a full preseason, the transfer speculation took away his focus and he wanted to leave

Spurs.

Now he is stuck, and the worry for England is unless he can rediscover his club form, he will go into a World Cup year below his prolific best.