Jamie Carragher says he is ready to call Harry Kane “world-class” after previously opting against giving the Tottenham and England star the label.
Writing in his column for the Telegraph last October, Carragher held off putting Kane in the world-class bracket, suggesting the 24-year-old isn’t worthy of the label until be starts performing at major tournaments.
Ahead of England’s Round of 16 meeting with Colombia at the World Cup, Kane has scored five goals in two appearances in Russia, scoring twice against Tunisia and bagging a hat-trick in the 6-1 win over Panama.
As a result, the striker has emerged as a genuine contender to win the Golden Boot. And Carragher believes Kane will be worthy of the world-class label if he wins the award.
“Kane can eclipse Gary Lineker’s goal haul from Mexico in 1986, and the performances of Alan Shearer at Euro ’96, come home with the Golden Boot and inspire England to a stage of the World Cup few of us truly believed possible before the start of the tournament,” wrote Carragher in his latest column for the Telegraph.
“If he succeeds, I will be amending the view I expressed in this column last October. I stated then Kane is not yet world class, suggesting the criteria for being so depended on shining in the latter stages of the Champions League or at a major international tournament.
“With five goals in the group stages Kane is already on his way to achieving this in Russia.”
Most Spurs fans will tell you Kane is already world class – scoring 59 goals across the last two Premier League campaigns isn’t something an ordinary footballer is able to achieve.
Kane scored 41 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions for Tottenham last season.