Harry Kane may currently be the world’s top scorer, but at 31 years old, he is gradually approaching the end of his career, although he is likely to remain at a very high level for at least five more years. However, at the moment, no young player is emerging as a clear candidate to fill the role of England’s striker.
Few contenders for the position
During the last international gathering, where the Three Lions faced Greece and Finland, three strikers were part of the squad led by Lee Carsley: Harry Kane, of course, as well as his two backups, Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke. Watkins, Aston Villa’s striker, will turn 29 in December, while Solanke, two years younger, currently does not guarantee the ability to perform at the highest level, which is a requirement for the England striker. While this group of young players has many outstanding talents in various positions (Saka, Foden, Bellingham, Palmer…), the future at the striker position looks a bit less promising. Once seen as a future top scorer, 20-year-old Dane Scarlett, Tottenham’s striker, is struggling to step up to the next level and will be loaned out for the third consecutive season (to FC Portsmouth, Ipswich United, and now Oxford United). Though he was barely used early in the season, he managed to secure a spot in the last four matches and scored three goals during this time. He also shone with the Young Lions (U21 team), scoring a goal and providing an assist in just 20 minutes during a dominant 7-0 win against Azerbaijan.
A promising talent in the fourth division
Nathan Lowe, if you don’t recognize the name, is currently playing at the fourth and lowest tier of professional football in England. On loan from Stoke City to Walsall, a club in the Birmingham suburbs, Lowe seems to be thriving and showcasing all his qualities. The lower English divisions are rightly known for their physical toughness. Moreover, the 24 clubs in League Two mean 23 matches for the teams, leading to long seasons. So far, this doesn’t seem to bother Lowe, who at just 19 years old has scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists in 14 senior matches across all competitions. Additionally, his height 1.93 meters makes him highly effective in set-piece situations, both offensively and defensively. At an age when players are often lacking in experience, Lowe appears to be ahead of the curve, as evidenced by his discipline he has yet to receive a single yellow card across all competitions. His efficiency is equally impressive; with nine goals so far from 18 shots on target, it shows he doesn’t need many clear-cut opportunities to score, much like some players in the world’s top teams. This clinical finishing has helped his team climb to second in the league, virtually earning promotion to the third division. Internationally, Lowe has been called up three times for the U19s last year, and if he continues his strong run most recently providing an assist in the FA Cup he is likely to be called up to the U20s or even the U21s soon.
