Alan Smith Believes Tottenham Striker is Burned Out

England’s 2-1 win over Wales yesterday marked the second consecutive game in which Tottenham Hotspur striker, Harry Kane, has been a non-factor in helping his side win the game.

Despite being Roy Hodgson’s preferred choice at the number nine position, Kane has not be able to deliver in two group stage matches in this year’s Euros. A part of this is due to Roy Hodgson’s tactics which clearly don’t benefit Harry Kane. Another reason is simply being burned out from playing too much football with no rest.

Playing the full 90 minutes against Russia, in England’s opening match, would suggest that Harry Kane isn’t actually tired. Seeing him get subbed out at half-time with England trailing 1-0 against Wales could have been a tactical change in Hodgson’s mind.

But the statistics point to a striker who is struggling to adapt to his manager’s tactics which doesn’t mesh well with Kane’s own strengths.

Dev Trehan of Sky Sports wrote that Harry Kane has only one shot on target in 135 minutes of playing time. And looking back on Kane’s performances through FourFourTwo’s Stats Zone, that’s actually correct.

Through two games, Harry Kane has managed three shots with one on target (which was blocked). This is a far cry from how effective he was with Tottenham last season where Kane shot 158 times and had a 60.5 percent shot accuracy, producing 25 Premier League goals in the process.

According to Alan Smith, the former England striker believes that Kane’s season with Spurs has burned him out from constantly running, playing 100 percent all of the time and not getting any rest with no backup center-forward to take over.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 02: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur stands dejected during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at Boleyn Ground on March 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

"“Harry Kane looked shattered to me,” Smith told Sky Sports News HQ.“I think he has a long, hard season at Spurs where they do demand 100 percent every week. They get through an awful lot of running.”“I hope I’m wrong but it looks like his legs have given up on him for this season.”It could be [that he is burnt out]. I know what you feel like when you get to a tournament after a long season. Sometimes you’re okay, other occasions you think, ‘Oh my, there is no energy left in my legs here’.You feel for Harry if that’s the case because it’s a big tournament for him. He’s enjoyed a fantastic season at Spurs again, scored lots of goals, but that’s what happens sometimes and somebody else comes from the fringes to make themselves a hero.”"

With Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge coming in for Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, respectively, to start the second half and score England’s two goals, Roy Hodgon now has to decide who will start in the Three Lions’ match against Slovakia on Monday.

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In one instance, Hodgson should go with the hot hand which is Vardy and Sturridge because they scored two goals to help England get a win over Wales.

But on the other hand, Harry Kane is still the best striker on the squad even though he doesn’t fit the tactics that is currently being deployed in these past two games.

With four points in two games, England aren’t pressured to win their third match, getting a draw would be more than enough to advance into the knockout stage, but Alan Smith believes that Roy Hodgson will experiment with his formation and tactics while rotating some players in and out of the starting XI.

"“It’s a game we don’t need to win but I think Sturridge and Vardy will play and that might mean he goes to a diamond in the way that he did in the second half against Wales, with Wayne Rooney just at the tip of it,” Smith added.“Dele Alli hasn’t really shown his Spurs form so far [at this tournament]. I probably expect him to stay in there. Jack Wilshere is kind of gnawing away at the edges to gain inclusion.”He gives you something different and I’m sure Jack will play a part in this tournament. But we’re in a nice situation, it’s not desperate and we don’t have to win.”"

Next: Tottenham Closing in on Wanyama?

Perhaps Harry Kane just needs some rest before he will be back to his old self.

And right now, that’s the best thing for the 22-year-old who has been consistently playing football since November 2014 without much of a break.

Two full seasons as Tottenham’s star striker and now he’s playing in the Euros. At his current pace Kane would be a member of England’s 2018 World Cup squad too. Not to mention another full year as Mauricio Pochettino’s first choice center-forward.

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