Concerns Over Future of England's Striker Position

Concerns Over Future of England's Striker Position

Concerns Over Future of England's Striker Position

Emile Heskey has expressed concerns about the future of England's main striker position, noting the decline of the traditional number nine role in recent years.

Harry Kane, the forward for Bayern Munich, is the only recognized striker included in Thomas Tuchel's 25-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

While some potential candidates are absent due to injuries or rest, this situation highlights England's continued reliance on the 32-year-old Kane.

Heskey, a former striker for Liverpool and Leicester who earned 62 caps for England between 1999 and 2010, remarked that it used to be clear who would step into the leading number nine role for the national team, a certainty that seems to have faded.

“In previous years, we were fortunate to see the emergence of new strikers,” Heskey said during an appearance on The Wayne Rooney Show. “There was a succession of players moving up the ranks; I followed Alan Shearer, and Wayne Rooney came after me. But now, where do we look for the next one?”

Only eight English strikers have played in the Premier League this season, with Chelsea's 22-year-old Liam Delap being the only one under the age of 26.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins performed admirably as Kane's deputy during Euro 2024, scoring a crucial goal in the semi-finals that helped England reach the final. However, he has been rested for this squad due to ongoing concerns.

Rooney commented, “We often discuss the volume of games players are involved in. This was an opportunity to rest Kane; he shouldn't play for England again until the World Cup. We know what he can deliver.”

Both Rooney and Heskey believe the apparent scarcity of traditional number nines is indicative of a broader trend in the sport, not just in England but worldwide.

“I think it’s simply because players are less inclined to play as number nines given the current evolution of the game,” Rooney noted. “Globally, there are not many number nines, so this is not just an English issue.”

He added, “Everyone aspires to be a Mo Salah or a Lionel Messi. In today’s game, forwards often see less of the ball, and you need to be as ruthless as Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe. There are very few true number nines, and even Kane doesn’t fit that mold.”

Heskey's sons, Reigan and Jaden, are also forwards and made their first-team debuts for Manchester City in September during the Carabao Cup.

At 47, Heskey reflected, “Forwards had to be much more involved during my playing days. You needed to chase down balls, win flick-ons, and engage more in the play. Nowadays, your two number eights are more active, and wingers play wider; forwards don't need to be as involved as before.”

Catch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds.

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