‘Grossly unfair’ – England warned over Brian Madjo fast-track plot amid Harry Kane replacement calls

Jeff Stelling may have requested the impossible by calling for calm as the Brian Madjo hype train thunders along.

Madjo, who is just 17 years old, stole the show during Wednesday’s Super Cup clash as Paris Saint-Germain beat Aston Villa 2-1 to retain the trophy.

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The teenager scored the Villans’ only goal on the night in Salzburg with a finish that showcased his remarkable physicality and finesse.

Madjo could and perhaps should have bagged more, but it did little to dissuade Villa supporters they have a gem on their hands.

Former Villa midfielder Andy Townsend wasn’t afraid to take it a step further though.

“Do you know what, as they were coming out for the second half, I was looking at him (Madjo) and thinking, ‘I wonder what (Thomas) Tuchel’s thinking tonight, watching that,'” Townsend said on talkSPORT after the contest.

Jeff Stelling says calling Madjo the next Kane is ‘grossly unfair’

But Stelling was keen to pump the brakes on talk of Madjo’s international future, especially given his age.

“My view was, he had a terrific night,” Stelling said on talkSPORT Breakfast.

“He had a lorry load of chances and, to his credit, he kept getting them. He’s a unit and he’s a nuisance as well.

“[But] Can’t heap pressure on him now, at 17, by saying he’s the future and he’s the next Harry Kane. It’s so grossly unfair.”

Is Brian Madjo eligible to represent England?

Madjo, who was born in Enfield, has three international caps for Luxembourg, although all of those came in friendlies.

That allowed the teenager to represent his nation of birth at Under-17 level in August 2025.

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But with Euro 2028 only two years away, the drums calling for Madjo to be drafted into the senior set-up will only beat louder should he continue to bag goals for Villa.

Such a scenario is one Villa icon Gabby Agbonlahor can see happening, claiming Madjo could be Kane’s cover given the latter will be 35 by the time Euro 2028 rolls around.

But Agbonlahor was also at pains to stress Madjo could yet be poached by one of England’s international rivals.

Along with the Three Lions, Madjo is eligible to represent Cameroon through his parents.

Gabby Agbonlahor calls on FA to speed up Madjo’s rise in England set-up

It’s why Agbonlahor believes the FA should be ‘fast-tracking’ Madjo through their youth teams to ensure he is not lost to five-time African Cup of Nations champions.

“I don’t think you can start saying now, he’s the next striker after Harry Kane,” Agbonlahor said.

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“But you know what you need to do now, if I’m the FA, I’m fast-tracking him. Luxembourg, he’s not going to choose Luxembourg. But Cameroon, his parents are from Cameroon, they will be looking at him right now saying we want to get him in the squad, get him playing a competitive qualifier so he can’t play for England.

“If I’m the England set-up now… I’m fast-tracking him to the Under-21s. Not straight away now, but let’s see how he does over the next two or three months.

“It won’t surprise me if he gets fast-tracked to the U21s and Thomas Tuchel, the FA are looking at it and saying, ‘Do we get him into the squad, do we get him a cap in a qualifier or a Nations League game?’

“After Harry Kane, how many strikers do we look at and say they are the next Harry Kane?

“I agree, they shouldn’t put pressure on him now that he’s going to be our next striker after Harry Kane. But after that performance last night, even though it’s only 60, 70 minutes, he was fantastic.

“And maybe, if he continues and the manager gives him game time this season, we could be looking in two years time at the Euros and saying he could be cover for Harry Kane.”

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Madjo, who leads Villa’s goalscoring charts in pre-season with five to his name, will look to add to his tally on Saturday when Unai Emery’s side face Borussia Monchengladbach.

Villa then get their 2026/27 Premier League campaign underway on August 23 with a trip to Brighton.