HARRY KANE was criticised last night for predicting that he could hit a Hampden hat-trick for England against Scotland.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker revealed he is brimming with confidence ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier and believes he could score “three or four” goals against Gordon Strachan’s side.
Former Scotland winger Davie Provan felt making such a comment on the eve of such a fixture was “careless” and will only provide additional ammunition for Scotland’s players.
Read more: Harry Kane: "Scotland versus England still means something. It will be like a derby game"
“From what I have heard about Harry Kane he’s not a showboater,” said Provan, speaking at William Hill media event. “It sounds uncharacteristic for a guy who comes across as being pretty modest - but it’s a bit careless to make a comment like that ahead of a game like this. It won’t have gone unnoticed by our boys.
“I just hope it gives our centre backs a little bit more incentive. They have been criticised in recent years, some of it justified, some of it over the top, but I hope it gives them the incentive to prove people wrong. The centre backs will certainly have taken note. Hopefully they will be up for proving him wrong.
“Everyone is talking about England’s front four – [Raheem] Sterling, [Dele] Alli, Kane and [Adam] Lallana - and how it’s going to be a cakewalk for them. I hope our boys stand up to that and make sure they don’t get it all their own way.
“Some people down south have a disparaging view of our game. But, to be honest, our game is not in a great place right now and maybe that’s why they think along those lines. But if that helps motivate our boys then Gordon Strachan would be quite happy to hear that kind of comment, if it gives his players an edge.”
On the back of a stellar season with Tottenham, Kane will almost certainly start up front for Gareth Southgate’s side tomorrow and feels this match provides him with the perfect opportunity to bolster his England record of five goals from his 17 international appearances.
Read more: Harry Kane: "Scotland versus England still means something. It will be like a derby game"
“I would love to score on Saturday and get that feeling again,” he added. “It feels like ages since I last played a game. So I am looking forward to it. Hopefully I can get a couple, three or four or whatever it may be, and try to get back on that scoresheet.
“If I score maybe a hat-trick at the weekend and a couple in the next game, my ratio might not look so bad. As a striker, you can always change that. Five in 17 isn’t a terrible record but it is something I want to improve. Hopefully that can start at the weekend.
“As a striker, you know you are always under scrutiny and people are always going to look to you for goals whether it is club or country. I am very confident at the minute. I just want to get out on that pitch. I haven’t played for England for a while due to a couple of injuries I’ve had so I am just excited to get back out there, play again and hopefully score some goals.
“Club football, you are in a rhythm all the time. You are playing week in week out but for your country, it is not like that. You meet up every now and then. But it is something I have got to get used to.
“We’ve got a great team here with England that I’m really excited about playing for. It’s just about keeping doing what I’m doing, keep working hard and use the bad and the good moments as experience.”
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