Highlights video + Southgate praises goalscorer Kane

If England need a goalscorer then Tottenham is the place to turn. Jimmy Greaves scored more hat-tricks for England than any other player - 6, Gary Lineker scored 5. Harry Kane has already notched a hat-trick for England the U21 side and popped up with the winner on Friday.



The England U21's had to bring 21-year-old Harry Kane off the bench to end the stalemate in the 81st minute against Lithuania after we had missed quite a few very good chances.

The UEFA European U21 Championship Group One Qualifying game at the Dariaus ir Gireno Stadium, Kaunas was 0-0 when boss Gareth Southgate put on Spurs striker Kane. He headed the decisive goal surrounded by three defenders.

Southgate was naturally pleased with the impact Kane made and feels he is now starting to show the finishing ability he has, something perhaps he has not always done.

"He is a penalty box player and if you get the ball into the box he is a real danger. He is really knocking on the door now. We put him on at that stage of the game when they were tiring and he gave us different options. 

"He is a very very good finisher. We see his finishing all the time in training, he works at it, which over the last 6 months with Spurs has started to see him transfer that to the pitch as well. It will do his confidence the world of good."

Sections of Spurs fans might disagree with that assessment believing almost that a striker should score with every decent chance they get. That has never happened to any striker let alone a young one starting to make his way.

Kane is showing the right mental attitude when he explains he is now looking forward to the next game to round off the final group game with a win. England have already qualified winning 8 of their 9 games so far and so didn't need to win this game but not trying to do so would be the wrong approach. England dominated the game against a defensive side but had alarms of their own and had to rely on the Spurs man to secure the three points.

"We wanted to come here and win and we want to win our next game as well to finish the group as strongly as possible as we go into the play-offs. They made it a tough game and we knew it would be like that coming away from home, it always is at places like this. 
"We had to be patient, which I thought we were, and we got the goal in the end so we’re happy with the win. 
"You always want to make an impact when you come off the bench so it was great to get the goal and most importantly the win. 
"It was a great ball in from Prowsey, I knew he was going to put it in the box so I just made a quick movement and fortunately he put it right on my head and I was able to put it in the back of the net. 
"There’s always an opportunity when the opposition get more tired in a period of the game, so I always feel that I’m going to get a chance when I’m on the pitch."

The next game is in Moldova where he hopes to get some more game time having enjoyed the reception he has received in Lithuania.

"It’s a really nice country. We’ve enjoyed our stay here so far and I’m sure we will enjoy the next couple of days before we go to Moldova. Everyone’s been very nice and welcoming."

In his after game press conference Southgate also mentioned a brilliant through ball from Tom Carroll to create a chance, which was cleared off the line. Alex Pritchard, on loan at Brentford, made it three Spurs players on the pitch when he came on after 79 minutes for Tom Ince and after Kane's goal heled to close out the game.

England U21 (4-2-3-1): Butland; M Keane, Gibson (Kane 64 mins), Moore, Garbutt; Ward-Prowse, Chalobah; Ince (Pritchard 79 mins), Carroll, Redmond (Hughes 79 mins); Berahino.

Subs not used: Forster-Caskey, Lascelles, Bond, Blackett.