Alan Shearer: 'Harry Kane should start for England'

Former England captain Alan Shearer has called on manager Roy Hodgson to start Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane in the upcoming matches.

The 21-year-old will join the Three Lions for games against Lithuania and Italy at the end of the month following his first call-up to the senior squad.

Shearer told BBC Sport: "I think Roy Hodgson should start him for England. Hodgson has watched him enough times, he knows what he's about and, in the form that he's in, he'll score goals and be a great foil for Wayne Rooney.

"He didn't start playing regular Premier League football until November but he's the top scorer in the league with 19. He scores all sorts of goals - a tap-in, a penalty and a deflection against Leicester. I'm a huge fan of his."

Kane continued his prolific form over the weekend as he bagged his first Premier League hat-trick in his side's 4-3 win over Leicester City.