How Wayne Rooney helped to turn Harry Kane into an England GOAT - with Three Lions captain explaining why Man Utd legend that he took international goal record from remains his 'biggest influence'

Prolific frontman Kane is currently captain of his country. That is a role that Manchester United legend Rooney once filled, as he became the Three Lions’ all-time leading scorer. That goal record has seen been handed over to the man occupying the England armband at present.

Kane has reached 71 goals for the Three Lions, putting him 18 efforts clear of Rooney, and may go on to chase down Peter Shilton’s appearance record of 125 caps. If more history were to be made, then the Bayern Munich striker could rightfully claim to be England’s greatest ever.

Such a standing was a distant dream when making his senior international 10 years ago against Lithuania, with his goal account being opened within 80 seconds of replacing Rooney in a Euro 2016 qualifier. Kane has come a long way since then, with plenty of assistance and advice being absorbed along the way.

Kane told Cleats Club when asked to pick out the biggest influence on his historic England career: "I’d probably say that Wayne Rooney had the biggest influence and was probably the biggest help when I arrived in the senior team.

"We got on straight away and he had some conversations with me, both in the camp and also on the phone afterwards about what it is to be an England player and how things might change for me a little bit, from a personal and a professional point of view. He was a great help and a great captain. I feel like I took a lot from him and learnt a lot from him as well. I would have to say Wazza on that one."

Kane does, at 31 years of age, still have time on his side when it comes to rewriting the history books with England. He is also looking to break his much-publicised trophy duck in 2025 as Bayern remain in the hunt for Bundesliga and Champions League titles.