WATFORD: England captain Wayne Rooney paid a glowing tribute to his new international colleague Harry Kane on Thursday, saying the Tottenham Hotspur striker's emergence was "great for English football".
Kane, 21, has been drafted into the England squad by manager Roy Hodgson for the first time after scoring 29 goals this season.
He will make his debut either in Friday's 2016 European Championship qualifier at home to Lithuania or Tuesday's friendly against Italy in Turin and Rooney is excited about lining up alongside him.
"First of all, the season he's had has been incredible," Rooney told a press conference at the England team hotel in Watford, north of London.
"His first season in the Premier League, to score the goals he's scored, and his performances have been excellent. He fully deserves his call-up to the squad.
"You've seen over the last few days (in training) that he's a goal-scorer; if he has a chance, he'll finish. It's great for English football to have someone performing like he is."
Hodgson, however, refused to reveal whether Kane will start Friday's Group E game against Lithuania at Wembley, where England will seek to preserve their 100 percent record in the group.
"I'm not prepared to reveal that or give out our line-up," the manager said.
"We're very happy with Harry. I can certainly say he's not in any way damaged his chances of playing and I'm pretty sure over the course of these two games, we'll see him make his debut.
"But I'm not prepared to give my selection away and when that is (that Kane plays), people will have to wait and see."
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster, left-backs Luke Shaw and Danny Rose and Liverpool pair Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge have already withdrawn from the squad due to injury, but Hodgson reported no new fitness concerns.
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