Harry Kane’s final Premier League appearance came in the form of a brace against Leeds United at Elland Road on the last day of the 2022/23 season.
That match signalled the end of Leeds’ top-flight tenure as they dropped into the Championship, a division they have struggled to escape from since.
Leeds’ heartbreak was compounded by their recent play-off final defeat to Southampton, a loss that still stings for the club’s loyal supporters. After a turbulent start to their latest campaign, however, the team has begun to show signs of recovery.
Meanwhile, Kane has experienced a mixed period since leaving English football. His high-profile move to Bayern Munich last summer was supposed to mark the beginning of a trophy-laden chapter.
Yet, despite his continued goalscoring prowess, the silverware that has so often eluded him remains out of reach.
On the international stage, however, Kane continues to thrive. He earned his 100th cap for England on Tuesday night, joining a select group of players, including Wayne Rooney and Bobby Moore, who have reached that milestone. The Bayern striker celebrated the occasion in style, netting a brace as the Three Lions dispatched Finland.
But despite his international accolades, memories of Kane’s lacklustre performance at Euro 2024 are still fresh in the minds of many. With England having fallen short at the tournament, questions about potential replacements for Kane have been raised.
During a recent appearance on talkSPORT (10/09/24 at 6:40 am), former Watford striker Troy Deeney was presented with a list of potential successors to Kane in the England squad. Some of the names mentioned were, in Deeney’s words, unusual.
Among the suggestions was Jamie Vardy, now 37 and retired from international football. Vardy had recently played a pivotal role in Leicester City’s promotion back to the Premier League, but Deeney was quick to dismiss the idea.
Even more surprising was the mention of Patrick Bamford, the Leeds United striker whose struggles in recent seasons have been well documented.
Bamford has found it difficult to stay fit, and Leeds’ inability to secure promotion has only added to his woes. Deeney wasted no time in shutting down the idea of Bamford stepping into Kane’s shoes.
“I think he has forgotten five years have passed since those guys were being spoken about,” Deeney said.
“All very good players and all doing their thing. But to move England on from where they already are. I don’t think those guys are top of the list moving forward. If we were struggling, then give them a call, but not right now. I would be more inclined to give Ivan Toney a call.”
Deeney added, “Pat Bamford, a lovely kid, but he can’t stay fit.”
Bamford’s England career has been brief, much like Leeds’ brief stay in the Premier League. The £10 million striker earned his solitary cap in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra, but has since fallen out of contention for the national team. At the time, he was vying with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins for a spot in the squad.
Watkins has since flourished, playing a crucial role in Villa’s return to the Champions League and scoring in the Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.
England ultimately lost the final to Spain, and many attributed the defeat to then-manager Gareth Southgate, who has since stepped down.