Harry Kane has backed Dele Alli’s fast-track elevation to the senior England set-up, saying it matters not that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has so little experience at Under-21 level.
Alli was the surprise name in Roy Hodgson’s squad for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania, having made only two appearances for the England Under-21s.
The 19-year-old arrived at Tottenham last summer and he has played nine times for the club, impressing with his skills and box-to-box drive. He put in his latest strong performance in the 1-1 Europa League draw at Monaco on Thursday night.
Kane, the Tottenham striker, made his England breakthrough last season and he remains in Hodgson’s squad. He said Alli was “over the moon” with the call-up and he believes that the midfielder’s age is no more than a number.
“He is a great talent and you don’t always have to have played in the Under-21s for a year or two before stepping up to the first team,” Kane said. “He has come in for us, played in Europe and gained great experience for international football.
“You don’t always have to go with the 21s for two years and wait for your chance. If you are good enough, sometimes you deserve to be called up straight away and that is the case.
“He has deserved this – he has been outstanding for us this season. For such a young lad, he has settled very well. Everyone here is very proud of him. I don’t think he can wait to get going for England.”
Kane benefited from the presence of some of his Tottenham team-mates in the England squad when he was first called up and he said that he would keep an eye out for Alli.
“Andros [Townsend] was there, [Kyle] Walker was there, and they had been there before,” Kane said. “Me and Ryan [Mason] went in together and were new. We kind of hung out together until we got to know the players and trained with them.
“Everyone is so welcoming. No one will give Dele a hard time. We will work hard. You always wonder what it is like but as soon as you settle – and he knows St George’s Park from the Under-21s – it will be fine. It’s just a step up in level and training.
“I am sure we will have a little chat about it. I will probably spend most of my time with him there because we are Spurs and I want to look after him, make sure he settles in all right. That is what it is about.”
