Wenger urges Kane England call-up

Arsene Wenger has encouraged England to call-up Tottenham striker Harry Kane after his two goals saw off Arsenal in Saturday’s North London derby.

Kane’s scintillating form has seen him score 22 goals in all competitions for Spurs this season, but Hodgson has delayed his introduction into the international set-up with the likes of Saido Berahino and Rickie Lambert preferred in England’s last squad in November.

Harry Kane rose highest to score a late winner in the North London derby © Getty Images

However Hodgson, who was at White Hart Lane to see Kane, 21, inspire Tottenham to fight back from a goal down to win 2-1, has been told by Wenger that he will need to move quickly to include Kane in his squad for next month’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania.

Wenger said: “When you have scored the number of goals he has scored, if you don’t put him in there, someone will give him a passport from another country.”

Despite winning 10 caps for England Under-21s, Kane was forced to deny reports in August last year that he was considering switching allegiance to Republic of Ireland, the country of his father’s birth.

“There’s no decision there,” he said at the time. “Obviously I’m playing for England’s Under-21s. I want to break into that senior squad.”

Since then, Kane has become a key part of Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side, playing an instrumental role in their rise to fifth place in the Premier League, but his manager insists he can get even better.

“Harry showed today that he is a great player,” said Pochettino. “But my idea is that he can still improve and we need to push him as his potential is massive.

“He’s in a very good moment, he’s the leading goalscorer in all competitions. If the national team manager thinks he’s a player for the national team, I’m happy,” he added.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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