England: Emile Heskey worried about where the next three lions striker will come from

Only eight English strikers have appeared in the Premier League this season and 22-year-old Chelsea Striker Liam Delap is the only one aged 26.

Striker Aston Filder Ollie Watkins was made as Kane’s representative at Euro 2024, with his semi-final goal helping England reach the final.

However, he took a break from this squad to manage a persistent issue.

Rooney said: “We talked about how many players in the game are playing today. We have a moment where we don’t have to see Kane, and he can rest.

“Kane shouldn’t play for England again until the World Cup. We don’t have to see, we know what he can do.”

Both Rooney and Heskey feel the apparent lack of numbers to come is a sign of the way the game has gone, not just in England but around the world.

“I just think it’s purely because they don’t want to play today’s number nines today in the way the game is,” Rooney said.

“If you look around the world there aren’t many numbers in the nines, so it’s not England.”

He added: “Everyone wants to be a MO SUAH or a Lionel Messi, and playing as a forward now you don’t touch the ball like Haaland bows.

“There are no numbers out there, not even Kane is one and out nine.”

Heskey’s sons, Reigan and Jaden, encouraged themselves and made their senior team for City City in September, in the Cababao Cup.

Heskey, 47, added:

“Now your two figure eights are working a lot more, you’re too busy, you don’t need to join now.”