According to a report by Evening Standard on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, England captain Harry Kane has spoken positively about Middlesbrough striker Will Lankshear following the youngster's impressive goalscoring performances in the Championship.

The Bayern Munich forward believes the 21-year-old has the qualities required to develop into a top striker but has urged people not to place unnecessary pressure on him as discussions about his potential future with the senior national team continue.

Lankshear has enjoyed an outstanding start to life at Middlesbrough after leaving Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window.

The young forward has scored 15 goals in 16 appearances across all competitions, attracting attention with his consistent performances and increasing calls for him to receive his first senior England invitation.

His impressive displays put him in contention for Thomas Tuchel's squad for the Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain this week.

However, the former Tottenham striker was not included in the senior selection and subsequently withdrew from England's Under-21 squad because of a muscular injury.

Kane, who previously played alongside Lankshear during their time at Tottenham, admitted that he had heard encouraging reports about the youngster's development.

The England captain revealed that a friend who coached Lankshear in Tottenham's younger age groups had previously described him as a natural goalscorer with an excellent understanding of positioning.

Kane also highlighted the youngster's finishing ability and explained that his current opportunity to play regularly and build confidence at Middlesbrough was important for his development.

The 33-year-old believes Lankshear would benefit from training alongside England's established attacking players if he eventually earns promotion to the senior squad.

However, Kane stressed that the young forward should be allowed to concentrate on his performances rather than being constantly compared with him.

The Bayern Munich striker acknowledged that England would eventually need to identify a long-term replacement for him but insisted that such discussions should not distract Lankshear from his progress.

He added that he would welcome the opportunity to work with the Middlesbrough forward and help him improve if they eventually become teammates at international level.

Meanwhile, Kane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are currently the only recognised centre-forwards in England's squad for the Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.