Brilliance of Kane is his simplicity, claims Hart

Tottenham forward Kane rattled home 13 goals for club and country last month and goes into tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Slovenia as the man most likely to deliver victory and a place in Russia next summer.

Hart has shared a pitch with some of the biggest names in English football’s recent history – from Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to John Terry and Wayne Rooney – and is in no doubt as to who is the current centre of attention.

“Right now Harry is hot,” said Hart. “He has (Mauricio) Pochettino, one of the hottest managers in the world, who regards him highly and there are reasons for that.

“Harry will keep being Harry and he will keep scoring goals. As long as he is in my team, wearing an England badge, I want that to continue.

“Whether he keeps his form, scores 40 goals or ends up with 20, he is still a top player and we are lucky to have him.”

As a goalkeeper and training ground team-mate, Hart has first-hand experience of the qualities that have brought Kane back-to-back Golden Boot awards in the Premier League.

He sees a player who eschews tricks and flicks in favour of ruthless efficiency in front of goal.

“There is no real secret to him and that is the brilliance of Harry,” Hart said.

“It is not dazzling skills; Harry is just brilliant at what he does and he is just one of the best out there.

“You know you will get a hard shot with Harry. If you give him half an inch he will get a strike on goal and make you work.

“He keeps scoring goals and you cannot ask for any more than that. Long may it continue in an England shirt.”

England duty has proved a steady constant for Hart over the last two seasons, with Manchester City sending him on loan to Torino last year and a possible relegation battle with current club West Ham.

He has been an ever-present on the road to 2018, conceding just three times in eight games – a record bettered only by Germany.

Manager Gareth Southgate reaffirmed Hart’s No 1 status just last month, amid renewed competition from the likes of Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford, though Hart is not taking his shirt for granted.

“Of course it is nice to hear. The few opinions that matter to me are my managers’ and team-mates’,” Hart said.

“For him to say that was a great plus for me, but I understand he was probably fed up with questions about it and maybe felt he had to be definitive with what he was doing. But I will not read too much into it or be resting or relying on that.

“I have got some fantastic competition and I say fantastic because I really enjoy it and enjoy the standard of goalkeeping at the moment, especially with England and with the Premier League.”

Hart is a veteran of almost a decade of Three Lions action and, though there has been precious little tournament joy in that time, he cannot help but be optimistic about the current generation’s prospects.

“I feel great behind this team. It really excites me and fascinates me, what we have to offer,” he said.

“I believe in the squad from the bottom of my heart. I believe we are capable, but there is a big difference in believing in something and doing it.

“That is why we want to qualify on Thursday and take a good performance on Sunday and then look forward to making a big impact at this tournament.”

Meanwhile, centre-back John Stones believes England are capable of producing performances against high-calibre opposition akin to Manchester City’s display in their victory at Chelsea on Saturday.

City’s bold, positive approach to the match at Stamford Bridge paid off, with them dominating proceedings as they underlined their Premier League title credentials with a 1-0 win over the champions.

Having played the full duration for the visitors, centre-back Stones has since joined up with England.

The 23-year-old was asked ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Slovenia about the possibility of the national team being as bold as City were at the weekend and similarly dominant against top-level sides.

Stones said: “We have the players to do it.

“It is difficult to bring how you play in the Premier League into international football, it is so different.

“But we are always striving to become better, and there is a lot of likeness between how City play and international football.”

Stones, who is expected to come into the England side tomorrow in the absence of the injured Phil Jones, rates his individual performance on Saturday as one of the best of his career.

There has been some criticism of him since he signed for City for £47.5m in the summer of 2016, but he feels he has “always been moving in the right direction”.