Harry Kane: 'Tottenham striker should start for England'

Tottenham striker Harry Kane should start for England in their upcoming international matches, according to former captain Alan Shearer.

The 21-year-old will join the national team for games against Lithuania and Italy at the end of the month following his first call-up to the senior squad.

He celebrated his call-up with a hat-trick in a 4-3 win for Spurs against Leicester on Saturday.

Shearer said: "I think Roy Hodgson should start him for England."

The former England striker, who scored 30 goals in 63 appearances, added on Match of the Day: "Hodgson has watched him enough times, he knows what he's about and, in the form that he's in, he'll score goals and be a great foil for Wayne Rooney.

"He didn't start playing regular Premier League football until November but he's the top scorer in the league with 19. He scores all sorts of goals - a tap-in, a penalty and a deflection against Leicester. I'm a huge fan of his."

England meet Lithuania at Wembley on 27 March in their latest Group E Euro 2016 qualifier before playing a friendly in Turin against Italy on 31 March.

Kane has scored 29 times in 43 games so far this season, and the Tottenham forward is also the leading top-flight scorer with 19 goals.

"Any squad I am involved in I want to be playing," said Kane.

"We meet up on Monday and then [my aim is to] train hard to try to work my way into the team.

"There is competition for places but like any team I am going to work hard and see if I can get my nose ahead and get a game.

"I'm not expecting to just go in and play. I know I've got to work hard for my place because there is great competition, especially up front."