Harry Kane won’t start for Engalnd says boss Roy Hodgson

Roy Hodgson has warned Harry Kane he might have to be patient before making his England debut.

Three Lions manager Hodgson promised to unleash the red-hot striker against Lithuania or Italy, but told him he won’t be in the starting line-up when the former visit Wembley for Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier.

Hodgson is preparing to go with captain Wayne Rooney leading the line and Raheem Sterling and Danny Welbeck alongside him.

Tottenham striker Kane has scored 29 goals this season, and there is a national clamour for him to play in front of a sell-out 90,000 crowd.

Hodgson said: “We’ve been very happy with Harry Kane this week. He’s done well and has done exceptionally well in the league.

“He’s not in any way damaged chances of playing in the senior team and I’m sure over the course of two games we will see him make his debut. We’ll see if that’s from the start, or if it’s coming on as sub.

“If we put him in and he starts and he doesn’t go well, we should have been a bit more solicitous in giving him a bit more time to find his feet.

“If we don’t put him in and it doesn’t go so well we are guilty of not giving a form player his chance so in this situation it is a question which has to be resolved - do I start him in the game or do I perhaps bring him on in the course of the game? Do I start him in the game against Italy? Do I not start him in either game?

"This is my decision - one I have to deal with and whatever decision I make there are people out there who would say I should have done it a different way.”

Hodgson is understood to be ready to stick with Rooney and Welbeck - who has scored five in his last five games for England - with Sterling just behind, while Kane is more likely to start Tuesday's friendly in Turin.