England's Striker Dilemma Ahead of Latvia Match
Thank goodness for Harry Kane.
The Bayern Munich star is set to start for England in their match against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday night, aiming to extend his impressive tally of 18 goals in the last 10 games.
A minor injury kept Kane out of England's 3-0 victory over Wales on Thursday, with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins stepping in as the only other recognized striker in the squad. However, Watkins collided with the post during the match and has since been ruled out of the Latvia fixture due to injury.
With Kane leading the attack, England fans are left considering their options for a backup striker, and the choices are not immediately clear.
Remarkably, only seven players classified as out-and-out strikers have played in the Premier League this season, with Chelsea's Liam Delap being the sole player under the age of 26 among them. The others include Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eddie Nketiah, Dominic Solanke, Watkins, Danny Welbeck, and Callum Wilson.
The shortage of center-forward options has been acknowledged by Under-21s manager Lee Carsley, who stated on Monday, "We need more center forwards, more orthodox number nines capable of scoring goals. We truly value that position." He added, "It seems to be in vogue to play center forwards out wide or in withdrawn roles, but we must remember the importance of the poacher, the goalscorer, and the focal point of the attack."
In contrast, England's senior team manager Thomas Tuchel faces a selection dilemma across the board due to a wealth of options, yet identifying a suitable deputy for Kane poses a unique challenge.
With England just one win away from qualifying for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the competition to be Kane's understudy is heating up.
BBC Sport has identified five potential candidates, collectively boasting 25 goals for England compared to Kane's record 74.
Why not Watkins?
Starting with Watkins, who scored against Wales before being substituted at halftime. Since making his England debut in 2021, Watkins has netted six times in 20 appearances, including the winner in England's Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands. However, he has struggled at club level this season with just one goal in 10 matches. Nevertheless, his quality shone through in the previous two seasons, where he scored 35 goals in 75 league appearances, helping Aston Villa secure consecutive top-six finishes.
Rashford's Resurgence
Why not consider Marcus Rashford as a central option? While Rashford has expressed a preference for playing on the left, he possesses the qualities to be an effective makeshift center-forward if needed. This season, the Manchester United player, currently on loan at Barcelona, has scored three goals in 10 appearances, including a brace against Newcastle in the Champions League. At 27 years old, Rashford has 18 international goals, making him the second-highest scorer in Tuchel's current squad.
Does Delap Do It for You?
Injury has sidelined Liam Delap, turning him into a potential future star rather than an immediate option. Delap netted 13 goals in 40 appearances for a relegated Ipswich Town last season, which led to a £30 million move to Chelsea. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury in just his third match this season and is expected to be out until December, missing the upcoming international camp. Although he has yet to earn his first cap, Delap played a key role in England's success at the European Under-19 Championship in 2022 and could be pivotal for the national team at next summer's World Cup.
Super Sub Solanke?
Tottenham's record signing Dominic Solanke has yet to receive a call-up to Tuchel's England squad and is also battling an injury. The 28-year-old has played only 31 minutes of Premier League football this season, having not featured since a 2-0 win over Manchester City on August 23 due to ongoing ankle issues. Solanke narrowly missed out on Euro 2024 selection after scoring 21 goals in 42 appearances for Bournemouth, which earned him a £55 million transfer to Spurs. He was Spurs' top scorer last season with 16 goals in 47 matches and earned his third and most recent England cap in a 5-0 victory over Ireland in November 2024.
Turn to Toney?
Could Ivan Toney make a return to the England setup? The 29-year-old was utilized as a substitute during Euro 2024, assisting Kane's extra-time winner in the last 16 and converting a penalty in the quarter-finals shootout. Toney's last appearance for England came as a two-minute substitute in a 3-1 defeat to Senegal in June 2025, marking Tuchel's only loss as England manager. Currently playing for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia after leaving Brentford in summer 2024, Toney scored 30 goals in 44 appearances last season and has already netted eight goals in 10 matches this campaign.
Who Else Could Start Up Front?
In the match against Wales, Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon shifted to a central role in the second half in Watkins' absence, scoring three goals in seven games this season. Meanwhile, Tuchel mentioned that he has not been in contact with striker Mason Greenwood, who is "not in our thoughts". The 23-year-old, who has three goals in nine matches for Marseille this season, has initiated a change of allegiance to Jamaica after leaving Manchester United when charges against him were dropped in February 2023.