Harry Kane has been England’s leading light for a decade now.
But with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins at the peak of his powers, this is the biggest test and challenge the Bayern Munich man has had to face.
Aston Villa fans have witnessed Watkins’ rise from a big-money Championship buy to a Champions League player in five years.
It has resulted in Watkins becoming England’s number two striker and the one who has been consistently on Kane’s back over the years.
That’s proven by his Premier League performances, but most importantly what he has been producing during the small amount of opportunities handed to him on the international stage.
That Watkins goal against the Netherlands was a standout moment for England at Euro 2024, another tournament where the man donning the armband struggled.
Yes, Gareth Southgate has been in charge for a large part, but England look sluggish when Kane is up top compared to a new lease of life and full of energy when his counterpart is playing.
Either way, following the conclusion of the latest international matches, Paul Scholes was pretty forthright and controversial in his thoughts.
Paul Scholes thinks Harry Kane is coming to an end with England
There have been cries for Watkins to be handed more England shots and if Scholes is true in his assessment, then that might come under new boss, Thomas Tuchel.
The Manchester United legend claimed that ‘it feels like the end with Kane’ and how everything seems much quicker around him, as he told The Overlap.
Watkins scored in his start against Greece, but was then benched for the thumping win over ten-man Republic of Ireland.
Yes, Liam Scales’ sending-off changed the whole game following that wicked pass from Kane, but Scholes isn’t impressed by what he saw.
“It felt like the end of Kane,” said Scholes. “You know the beginning of the end. He looked out of place.
Gary Neville responded: “You say that though, you think about it in the summer in the Euros, to be fair, he was struggling a little bit then, wasn’t he, with his legs?!”
Roy Keane then interrupted: “But he’s only 31. We are talking like he is 35 or 36.”
Scholes then added: “He just looks that way, doesn’t he?!” Keane agreed: “Then he plays that great ball and scores the first goal, so that covers it a little bit. I agree with you though.”
Scholes then claimed: “When you get older, you feel like everything is happening a little quicker around you. It looked a little bit like that. But I don’t know who would replace him. And he (Alan Shearer was like that towards the end of his career) and he retired (for England) at what, 31?!”
Aston Villa’s Watkins deserves more opportunities with England
This isn’t a case of casting Kane aside, but just respecting Watkins more on the international stage because he has earned it.
Watkins has played a huge part in Villa reaching the Champions League, and if they are to stay there, then they need him firing.
Last season, the 28-year-old was one of the best players in the Premier League and deserved to be in the PFA Team of the Year, including providing a league-high 13 assists, as posted by Transfermarkt.
| Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Minutes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Premier League | 37 | 19 | 13 | 3.226′ |
 | Conference League | 10 | 5 | – | 755′ |
 | FA Cup | 3 | – | – | 200′ |
 | UECL Qualifiers | 2 | 3 | – | 97′ |
 | EFL Cup | 1 | – | – | 45′ |
| Total 23/24: | 53 | 27 | 13 | 4.323′ | |
