England manager Gareth Southgate has backed captain Harry Kane to break Wayne Rooney's international goalscoring record, providing he can stay fit.
The Tottenham striker bagged his second England hat-trick in the 4-0 rout of Bulgaria at Wembley on Saturday night, twice netting from the penalty spot.
In 2015 Rooney surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton's England record of 49 goals, which stood for almost five decades, before going on to set the target for Kane at 53. The Tottenham star's tally currently stands at 25 from his 40 caps.
Such is the reliance on Kane for both club and country that an urgency to have him playing as often as possible has resulted in an uncomfortable amount of ankle issues over the past two seasons. Southgate is confident he can surpass Rooney's record in front of goal, so long as fitness does not become more of a problem.
"I think it will just be about fitness and avoiding lengthy injuries - things that are out of your control - but I would think everything else is there to really challenge it," Southgate said.
"The reality of that is that there's a reason that only Bobby [Charlton] and Gary [Lineker] and Wayne have got there, because it's such a hard challenge to stay fit, the number-one choice, focused, motivated for the long period that you need to be able to get the games and to get those goals.
"But if anybody has that strength of mentality, for sure it's Harry."
Kane's treble on Saturday took him past Sir Geoff Hurst in the list of England's all time top goalscorers, but the thought of breaking Rooney's record is not on he is paying much attention to yet.
"It a great milestone to reach, something I am very proud of, but as you know I am always looking for the next one, the next set of goals," Kane said.
"See how quick I can get to 30 and go from there. There is another game on Tuesday where I feel we can create chances so hopefully I can get a couple more.
"For me it is always about improving and getting better so if I get to that tally and I am still young enough to carry on playing it will be about progression and scoring more.
"If in a few years' down the line I am getting close then great."
