Friday 29 September 2017 07:05, UK
Chris Powell says there is no question that Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane is world class.
The Tottenham and England striker has scored nine goals in his last five games in all competitions, after hitting 29 last term to win the Premier League's Golden Boot award.
Kane was the only English player included on the Fifa Fifpro World XI shortlist, which is decided by the votes of 25,000 professional players.
There is no doubt in Powell's mind about whether England have a world-class talent on their hands.
"With the way he's been this month, for him to score the goals he has already, he's world class - I'll stop that debate right now," Powell told The Debate.
"People ask: is he, isn't he? Without a doubt, we've got a player who could be almost like an Alan Shearer-type goalscorer in the Premier League, and for England."
England boss Gareth Southgate revealed earlier this month that Kane has set his sights on joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as a world-class superstar.
Danny Murphy, who joined Powell on The Debate, thinks it's too early to put Kane in the same bracket as Ronaldo and Messi - but he could well get there.
"Ability-wise, he is world class," he said.
"The longevity will determine whether he is world class. For me, you can have world class, but everyone has a different meaning for world class.
"My translation is the longevity, and he is three years in and still doing it. So I don't see a halt to it."
Southgate named his England's squad on Thursday for their final World Cup Qualifiers, with Kane and Dele Alli both likely to lead the attacking threat - barring no international ban for Alli, who is being investigated for making an offensive gesture during England's 2-1 win over Slovakia at Wembley last month.
The prospect of unleashing the Tottenham pairing at international level is perhaps the greatest cause for optimism regarding England's chances at next summer's World Cup.
It's a statement that Murphy agrees with.
Murphy said: "If you look at the Kane - Dele Alli partnership, how many of the best clubs in Europe wouldn't want those players? That's the level they're at.
"If they keep developing, keep building that relationship, that is a hell of a weapon to go into a tournament with.
"That's why I've said in recent times, play Dele Alli and Kane in the roles they play for Tottenham.
"They are special."
