Stan Collymore Highlights Lack of New Strikers Behind England’s Harry Kane

England currently faces a shortage of emerging forwards capable of succeeding Harry Kane, according to former Premier League and England striker Stan Collymore. Kane remains the team's leading striker and record goal-scorer, but concerns persist about the absence of a clear successor in the domestic system.

Kane, who will soon turn 33, has expressed his intention to extend his playing career to match the longevity of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. If he continues for another five years, participating in additional European Championships and World Cups, there may be opportunities for younger talents to rise and claim the striker role.

Despite this, there is a noticeable lack of depth in England’s youth ranks for the striker position, and Kane faces limited competition at the senior level. This challenge is not unique to England; the football world has seen a decline in traditional No.9 forwards over recent decades.

In the 1990s, the Premier League featured prolific strikers such as Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Andy Cole, and Robbie Fowler. While exceptional players have emerged since then, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland stands out as a rare example of a dominant centre-forward in 2026.

Why Are Traditional Strikers Becoming Scarce?

Collymore, speaking in association with BetWright football betting, addressed the global decline in fearsome No.9 strikers like Kane, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, and Luis Suarez as they approach the later stages of their careers. He noted that over the past 15 to 20 years, most teams have adopted formations with a front three rather than a lone striker.

He explained that many players prefer to be wide forwards, enjoying the ability to cut inside and shoot without the intense goal-scoring pressure placed on centre-forwards. “If you’re a centre-forward/striker, you’re judged on one thing, and that’s goals,” Collymore said.

Regarding Haaland’s role, Collymore highlighted the striker’s adaptability, noting that at Manchester City, Haaland’s goals often come from close-range finishes, unlike his earlier career at Dortmund where he had more space to run onto long balls. This shift reflects tactical changes in how strikers are utilized.

Collymore attributed the decline in traditional strikers to the move away from formations featuring two central forwards supported by wide men, toward systems where wide players share goal-scoring duties. He recalled his own experience at Crystal Palace, where wide players were expected to create chances for strikers rather than score themselves.

He pointed out that the current distribution of goal-scoring responsibilities has diluted the presence of a single dominant striker. The lack of promising forwards in England’s youth teams, including the under-21s, 17s, and 18s, adds to the concern.

Concerns for England’s Forward Line

Collymore expressed worry about the trend’s persistence across global football. He mentioned that potential England backup strikers such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Welbeck were considered only if Ollie Watkins did not perform well, while Liam Delap has struggled at Chelsea. This scarcity of emerging strikers is troubling for the future.

He hopes that in the coming years, formations like 4-4-2 with two strikers might regain popularity, forcing defenders to adapt to marking multiple forwards. He also suggested that tactical elements like throw-ins and set-pieces could see a resurgence in importance.

Collymore concluded by describing the current lack of quality strikers in both the Premier League and the World Cup as “desperately disappointing” for someone who played as a central striker.

England’s Forward Options for the 2026 World Cup

At the 2026 World Cup, England has selected Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa and Ivan Toney from Al-Ahli as backup options to captain Harry Kane. The extent of their involvement behind Kane, England’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, remains to be seen.

England will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia, with the long-term question remaining: who, if anyone, will emerge to replace Kane as the team’s primary striker in the future?