Thomas Tuchel urged to consider uncapped Premier League striker with 32 career goals

An England team without talismanic captain Harry Kane doesn’t bear thinking about.

However, that notion is closer to becoming a reality that many would like to admit with the striker now at the age of 33.

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Much of the trepidation stems from what lies in wait post-Kane... or what doesn’t.

Such is the disparity between Kane’s level and the rest of the pack, each tournament that passes by feels like a missed opportunity at glory for the Three Lions.

The pot of attacking talent waiting in line is thin, however, talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan has urged Three Lions’ head coach Thomas Tuchel to keep a close eye on Liam Delap.

The Nottingham Forest striker opened his account for the club in style during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

Delap, who endured a frustrating campaign at Chelsea last season, has quickly shown signs of recapturing the kind of form that earned him a £30million switch from Ipswich to Stamford Bridge in 2025.

Quizzed on whether Delap could one day fill the international void left by Kane, Jordan remained open on what the 23-year-old could offer the Three Lions in the future.

Are you watching Tuchel?

“Delap might do it, he’s a good player, “ Jordan said. “He had a great season at Ipswich in a side that could really compete and he scored a few goals.

“He went to Chelsea and got lost in the vacuum. 

“That happens to young players. He’s gone to Nottingham Forest, two games in; wallop! He starts scoring goals.”

Delap earned plaudits during his season at Portman Road, netting 12 Premier League goals despite the club’s relegation to the Championship.

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Many expected the striker to kick on at Chelsea last season but a hamstring injury just two weeks into the campaign left him sidelined for two months.

Managerial changes followed by a dislocated shoulder further hampered Delap’s development in west London.

He finished the season – and his spell with the club – with just two goals in 41 appearances across all competitions.

Who is England's second best striker?

Another English striker tipped to fill in for Kane is Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The 29-year-old, who has scored four goals in 12 caps for England, was instrumental in his side’s 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle on Monday night.

The ex-Everton striker has found the net three times in six matches this season and Jordan hopes he can continue his good run of form.

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Asked if Calvert-Lewin was England's second-best striker behind Kane on current form, Jordan said: “Maybe, I mean he’s always been a good player. 

“He had that very good season at Everton and then the injuries took their toll on him and he went to Leeds on a free (transfer).

“He’s having a good moment in time, I’d like to see it being sustained.

“The problem for English football is not whether Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the second to Harry Kane, it’s why we haven't got other players we can choose from.

“Ivan Toney going to Saudi Arabia, predominately has been kept in the England set-up because they don’t have any replacements.

“They don’t have a great litany of forward players that can sit in a role that the aging Harry Kane is going to vacant sooner or later.”