Summary:
- Harry Kane is set to return for England’s match against Latvia after missing the Wales game with a minor injury.
- Ollie Watkins is ruled out following a collision that left England short on natural strikers.
- England’s lack of traditional No. 9 options is raising concern, with few young strikers emerging in the Premier League.
Harry Kane might be England’s best hope once again, as the Bayern Munich striker is expected to start against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday, looking to build on a remarkable run of 18 goals in his last 10 matches.
Carsley: “We Need More Orthodox Number Nines ”
Kane missed the 3–0 win over Wales last week because of a minor injury, which gave Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins a rare start. However, Watkins won’t be available for Latvia after crashing into the post and getting injured, leaving England short on true strikers once again.
That shortage has become a real concern. Only seven English forwards who could be considered out-and-out strikers have played in the Premier League this season, and just one, Chelsea’s 22-year-old Liam Delap, is under 26. The rest are familiar names: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Eddie Nketiah, Dominic Solanke, Watkins, Danny Welbeck, and Callum Wilson.
England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley didn’t sugarcoat the situation.
We need more centre forwards, we need more orthodox number nines which are capable of scoring goals. It is in fashion to play your centre forwards out wide or to play them withdrawn. I think it is something that we need to be aware of.
Backup Needed
While England manager Thomas Tuchel has no shortage of talent in most positions, finding a reliable backup for Kane before next summer’s World Cup could be his biggest challenge.
England are only one win away from qualification for the tournament in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, but the question of who leads the line when Kane rests remains wide open.
Watkins had been the most obvious alternative, scoring six goals in 20 appearances for England, including the winner in last year’s Euros semi-final. However, his slow start to the Premier League season hasn’t helped his case.
Marcus Rashford could also be an option. He prefers playing out wide but has the pace, strength, and finishing ability to fill in as a centre-forward if needed.
Beyond them, options thin out quickly. Delap is injured. Dominic Solanke hasn’t played much for Spurs this season. Ivan Toney, now playing in Saudi Arabia, is still scoring but remains out of the picture for now.
At the moment, Kane stands almost alone, playing the role of a reliable constant in a team full of uncertainty up front. For England fans, that’s both reassuring and worrisome.