Kane the real deal, say Cahill and Carrick [AMBIENT]
Hodgson was photographed holding the notes as he put his squad through their paces at St George's Park yesterday on which the names of the uncapped Tottenham striker and England captain Wayne Rooney were circled.
It would be totally in keeping with coach Gary Neville's mischievous sense of humour for the jottings to be a bluff - and the rest of the names written down did not amount to a formation - but a prospective partnership of Kane and Rooney in Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier has captured the imagination of the public.
There was no grand welcoming committee for English football's man of the match when he teamed up with the senior squad for the first time on Monday, though the spirit and camaraderie Hodgson has fostered means Kane was not stepping into a world of cliques and coteries.
What has truly smoothed his arrival, however, is the respect he has garnered from opponents-turned-team-mates relieved that for 10-days at least they can revel in the reality that the forward whose weekend hat-trick against Leicester took his tally for the term to 29 is on their side.
"He is a top player," said Gary Cahill. "The writing was kind of on the wall with regard to him being in this squad and he has deserved his place.
"As a young English player playing at a top club in the Premier League what he has done this season has been fantastic. He can hold the ball up, he runs in behind, he has two good feet, he can head, he can finish, he has a bit of pace, physically he is strong enough - so he has all the attributes.
GETTY/AFP
Kane and Rooney's name were circled on Hodgson's training notes
His confidence must be sky high. He is in a good place at the minute
Gary Cahill
"To meet up with the England squad for your first time in the seniors off the back of a hat-trick...his confidence must be sky high. He is in a good place at the minute."
These were not simply well-chosen platitudes from the Chelsea centre-back, but insight into a player he regards as a "real handful."
Kane was on the receiving end of the first meeting with Cahill this term, Tottenham losing 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, but the spectacular revenge he gained when scoring twice in Spurs' 5-3 New Year's Day demolition of Jose Mourinho's side remains a reference point.
He scarred Cahill and John Terry that day and has hardly stopped scoring since - even if it was Cahill who lifted silverware earlier this month in the Capital One Cup Final.
"Obviously you wouldn't say pace wise he's like Gabby Agbonlahor, someone like that, but he's powerful in his running," added Cahill.
"For me, the attributes are all there. It's about how he progresses in the next few years. This year he has been phenomenal."
What has caught the meticulous eye of Michael Carrick has been Kane's ability to cope with the increased scrutiny his performances have come under without apparently feeling the strain.
Harry Kane Player Profile
"If you look at the start of the season, to the level he's at now, he's jumped a couple of levels at least," said the midfielder. "What's impressed me most is as the spotlight has grown on him, he's talked about, given more praise, and as defenders are becoming more aware of him, he's taken his game on and kept producing and kept producing.
"At the weekend, he's obviously had a big call-up and then scored a hat-trick. It's a good sign, it's almost like he thrives on that little bit of pressure and expectation to do what he's done.
"It looks like there's more to come from him, so it's brilliant he's here." Whoever plays in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley, England will be expected to maintain their perfect start to qualifying against Lithuania.
The video messages Hodgson sent to his players to fill the gap since he last saw them in November were followed up with a team meeting at Monday night when a desire for "aggressive" and inventive football was reiterated.
"It was just to refresh our memories of the previous results," said Cahill. "The way that we've been playing, that we're moving in the right direction and just to drill home the points of what we want to focus on in the games." Danny Welbeck, with five goals in four qualifying matches, will hope to see off the challenge of Kane and ensure his is name that is written down alongside that of Rooney and not just ringed.
Hodgson may have to grow accustomed to breaking hearts over the coming months, but that he is in a position to do so is a positive.
"The strikers are all chomping at the bit to play," added Cahill. "I'm sure he would relish the opportunity to play. For me, he's (Kane) ready to play, but so are the other guys.
"That's down to the manager."
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