World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst believes Harry Kane should become a permanent fixture in Roy Hodgson's senior England squad and has backed the Tottenham striker to make his mark at the top level.
It is widely anticipated that the 21-year-old Kane will make his England debut in Friday's European Championship qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley, having already notched 29 goals across all competitions for Spurs this season.
But Kane's maiden call-up to senior duty has left question-marks on whether he will form a key part of Gareth Southgate's squad that travels to Czech Republic at the end of the season for the European Under-21 Championships.
Any appearance on Friday would be Kane's 44th competitive match of the campaign and the risk of fatigue, especially with England hoping to be involved at Euro 2016 in France next summer, would only be heightened if he were to continue representing his country across different levels.
And Hurst, who made his England bow at the age of 24, reckons Kane should stay put with Hodgson's squad if he can prove that is where he belongs.
"If he comes in, performs well and scores goals for the senior side - he stays in the senior side," said Hurst.
"I think it is very important for young players to come through the development system and the Under-21s is an important part of a player's progression.
"If you're good enough, the likes of George Best at 17,18, then you should be given a chance in the national team and perform for the national side you should stay there.
"I don't see any point in his particular case, if he is doing the job for Spurs and the senior team, to have him put in the Under-21s.
"It is like at club-level, if Harry is playing well for the first-team at Tottenham you would never consider dropping him into the reserves. It just wouldn't make sense."
Whilst Hurst - who remains the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final - feels Kane's call-up has come early on in his development, he knows that a player who has amassed 19 Premier League goals since November could not be overlooked.
"I have been in a similar position - I went through the same situation but he has progressed quicker than I did," he said of Kane's first call-up
"I had to do it for two or three seasons before I was picked whereas I think that is a change today, if a player has had a season like he has they tend to get pulled into the squad a little earlier.
"He deserves to be in the squad and he has had a great season without any argument. It is very easy to judge strikers. If you score 25 goals there is no discussion. You're in.
"You have to do it on a regular basis and, looking at Harry, I see no reason why he can't do that for England and Tottenham."
Kane's progression this season is even more remarkable given the set-backs he faced reaching the Tottenham first-team, with several failed loans threatening to curtail his youthful career.
But Hurst feels those knocks will make Kane fully appreciate being part of the England set-up heading into the game against Lithuania.
"I can talk from a position of strength on that," he added.
"I wasn't the best player at school, at West Ham or in the England team. But I think he has something I had and that is a good attitude. That goes a long way in all walks of life but especially in football.
"There have been a lot of players over the years who would admit themselves that they weren't the best players ability-wise but they made themselves greats due to their attitude, work ethic and behaviour.
"Kevin Keegan comes to mind and I think Frank Lampard, too. Harry can emulate them because of his attitude, a similar attitude. With that attitude you can achieve anything and everything.
"I think he has got a lot of strengths. He has not had it easy, some kids come through and have it easy. He has had knock-backs and found it hard.
"A player coming into the squad, if he comes in and score goals, he makes if very difficult for the manager to leave him out.
"If he is going to be kept in because he is doing the business they need to look at other players to leave out of the XI and players have done that over the years. It is competition for the front positions and that is very healthy."
:: Sir Geoff Hurst is encouraging communities to nominate a local #GrassrootsHero for the FA & McDonald's Community Awards. Nominations in England close Friday 27th March, to nominate visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards
Source: PA
