England manager Thomas Tuchel believes replacing Harry Kane like-for-like will be impossible as the prolific captain continues to set new records.
Kane extended his national-team scoring record to 87 goals after finding the net against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
He is also only two matches short of Peter Shilton’s total of 125 England appearances, moving him closer to becoming the country’s most-capped player.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker remains in outstanding form. His 73 goals for club and country last season placed him firmly among the Ballon d’Or contenders, but Tuchel accepts that Kane’s career cannot continue indefinitely and sees no clear replacement.
“The first thing to understand is that there will not be another Harry Kane,” Tuchel said.
“His mentality drives him to demand more from everyone, and alongside his exceptional finishing, he has developed into an incredibly dedicated forward. He offers the complete package.
“We are exploring alternative approaches and different answers. We even ended the match with Jude [Bellingham] operating as the number nine.
“Someone else will eventually take the position, but that player will neither be Harry nor an identical version of him. A solution will emerge when necessary, although I may not be the person making that decision. It could still be another decade away.”
Kane ranks among the finest forwards of his era, yet England have struggled for years to identify a dependable alternative.
Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney provided cover during the previous two major competitions, but both Saudi Arabia-based players are now in their thirties and were not selected for the latest Nations League matches.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been included in the squad, although he is nearing 30, while Liam Delap is currently the only English centre-forward younger than 27 to have registered a Champions League goal.
With limited options available, Tuchel strengthened his attack in Prague by moving Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham into a more advanced position after introducing him in place of Kane.
“I think he works well as a number nine,” Tuchel added. “From there, he can move towards either flank, help create numerical advantages and avoid disrupting the team’s overall balance.
“In the previous game, we tried him in a slightly different position as a central number 10. That allows him to support attacks on either side and shifts our shape closer to a 4-2-3-1 than a 4-3-3. It also keeps Harry and Jude near one another so they can combine and create overloads across the pitch. We are continuing to develop that idea.
“Scoring comes naturally to him, and he is determined to get his name on the scoresheet. He wants to be involved in the moments that decide matches, so playing as a nine rather than a 10 does not make a major difference.”
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