Roy Hodgson: We must handle 'phenomenal' Harry Kane with care

You wonder what next for the 21-year-old Spurs striker, who went on as a substitute and took only

79 seconds of the Three Lions’ 4-0 European Championship qualifying stroll against Lithuania to score his 30th goal of the season.

His only ‘failure’ on another personal night to remember was having to wait around four minutes for the ball to go dead before making his 72nd-minute Wembley entrance.

The Spurs prodigy looks as if he is here to stay on the international stage and certain involvement against Italy in Tuesday night’s friendly in Turin will further his continental education.

For Hodgson to see the goals potential of ‘The Hurricane’ at close quarters is a timely boost as England steam ahead towards next summer’s European Championship finals.

There will be no proper appraisal of England’s current standing following a woeful World Cup until France 2016 due to the uninspiring qualifying programme, which makes the fact that 83,671 turned up on Friday night at Wembley more remarkable.

A bit like Kane’s progress – from an unconvincing Tottenham loanee to Premier League sensation.

The noise which greeted his arrival as a replacement for skipper Wayne Rooney was of pop idol proportions.

Hodgson said: “He’s got to be delighted that he is being regarded as a phenomenon. To get that type of reception when your name is called out and you come on the field is a bit of a dream come true.

“Then to make it really count by scoring a goal, it doesn’t get much better than that.”

But unbridled success usually comes with a caveat. Hodgson, who has been around the block a few times, wasn’t afraid to deliver it.

“We are not going to hold him back, but I am rather hoping I have got Harry Kane for a long period to come. I don’t want to be the one who throws him in, if you like, and he flies too close to the sun,” Hodgson added.

“If I was just a fan I would be shouting the same things but when you have a responsibility as a coach, not just to Harry Kane but to lots of other players as well, then you have to think what is best for everybody.

“I suppose when someone has shone so brilliantly it’s always in the back of your mind (an individual failing) but when I look at the qualities he possesses as a football player I have no fears in that respect.

“But I still think it’s prudent of Spurs, Mauricio Pochettino and myself, when you take him one step further up not to stand here in front of you (the media) singing his praises.

“You sing his praises enough so just allow me to dampen them down a little bit.”