England boss Roy Hodgson has called for calm on the expectations of striker Harry Kane following his impressive season.
The 21-year-old scored on his debut for the Three Lions in Friday's 4-0 win over Lithuania, which boosted his reputation further in the minds of supporters after excelling for Tottenham Hotspur with 29 goals this campaign.
However, Hodgson is adamant that he has to manage the long-term expectations of Kane and revealed that he will not overburden the youngster at this early stage in his career.
"If I was just a fan I would be shouting the same things, but you have to understand that you have a responsibility as a coach - not just to Harry Kane but to lots of other players as well - that you have to think what is best for everybody," he told reporters.
"What is best for the team, what is best for everybody, what is going to make it work?
"We are not going to hold him back, but on the other hand I hope I have got Harry Kane for a long period to come and I don't want to be the one who throws him in and he flies too close to the sun."
Kane is expected to be in the starting lineup when England take on Italy on Tuesday.
Simon Sinclair
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