Gareth Southgate has confirmed Harry Kane will captain England for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Slovenia.
Speaking ahead of the Group F clash, however, Southgate revealed Kane has known for a month that he will wear the armband only for the Wembley tie.
It caps an impressive last fortnight for the Spurs striker who has also netted a Champions League hat-trick for Spurs and a brace against Huddersfield in the Premier League.
Southgate said: “He's captain tomorrow, which he knew a month ago. We'd already had that conversation.
“His leadership qualities are invaluable to us as a team. He's in a good moment as well in terms of his form. We really enjoy working with him – I've known him a long time – and he's improving and maturing all the time.”
In total, Kane has scored 13 goals in 11 appearances for club and country so far this season.
The 24-year-old said: “It makes me very proud. Growing up as a kid you dream about playing for your country and being captain as well.
“Walking out at Wembley will be an amazing thing for me, personally. There are plenty of leaders in the team, and the gaffer will change it. “Plenty of others will be given it as well to see how it feels, but I'll just go out there and do my best for the team, try and score goals and win the match.
“Having an armband on your arm doesn't make any difference to how you play and if you score goals or not. We have plenty of leaders in the team.
“Plenty of us will speak up and try and help each other on the pitch, be there for each other when things are tough. It's another game for me to try and help the team by scoring goals and qualifying for the World Cup.”
Kane’s team-mate, Dele Alli, misses the game through suspension after his middle-finger gesture in the win over Slovakia.
FIFA opted for a one-match ban rather than the three that Alli could have had.
Southgate added: “It's quite a unique circumstance. It's probably a fair outcome. I've discussed it with Dele throughout. He recognises his responsibilities and how things will be viewed, and how his world is changing in terms of the attention and spotlight on him. He won't do it again, that's for sure. It's an experience he'll have learned from.”
Asked whether he’d spoken to the Spurs midfielder, Southgate added: “We've had good conversations about loads of different things.
“Now my focus is him being ready for the game on Sunday, making him aware of how we're playing and everything we're trying to do with the team. There's a desire to know everything we discuss, but he's a player we enjoy working with.
“The things he does on the pitch in terms of creativity and the way he plays are a result of his character. With that character you do things immediately and think about them afterwards. These experiences will make him better going forward.”