{"id":1517691,"date":"2026-11-11T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1517691"},"modified":"2026-11-11T10:17:06","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T10:17:06","slug":"will-lankshear-analysis-england-next-number-nine","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/will-lankshear-analysis-england-next-number-nine\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Will Lankshear can be England’s next No.9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s a dearth of star quality in the centre-forward position for England<\/a>, in the long-term picture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the scores of world-class strikers England had at their disposal back in the 1990s all wound down in their careers \u2013 the Shearers, Fowlers, Ferdinands, Coles, Sheringhams and Wrights \u2013 the Three Lions have enjoyed fairly smooth handovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
THE SCORESHEET<\/div>\n
Name a player from a real result: a scorer wins you three points, an appearance one. Can you win the league — or the Champions League?<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n Home<\/span>\n \n 2<\/span>\n 1<\/span>\n <\/span>\n Away<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n Your pick: ?<\/span>\n +3<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Play The Scoresheet →<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Michael Owen won the Ballon d\u2019Or in 2001, then Wayne Rooney emerged shortly afterwards \u2013 albeit with the dilemma of whether he\u2019s an out-and-out centre-forward. Rooney’s decline corresponded neatly with the rise of Harry Kane<\/a> in the mid-2010s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Kane, however, the progression plan isn\u2019t quite so obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lack of clear succession<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ollie Watkins<\/a>, Ivan Toney<\/a> and Dominic Solanke<\/a> are all 29 or 30, and unlikely to hit the same levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calvert-Lewin is a functional target man but England aren\u2019t likely to be a crossing-heavy side. Watkins and Toney are playing in Saudi Arabia<\/a>, and Solanke\u2019s big move to Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> hasn\u2019t quite worked out for him yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcus Rashford<\/a> is now classed as a wide forward. Tammy Abraham and Eddie Nketiah<\/a> haven\u2019t quite lived up to early potential, while Callum Wilson<\/a> and Danny Welbeck<\/a> are veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, there\u2019s the debate around whether to operate with a false nine. Jude Bellingham<\/a> would be nudged further up to incorporate an additional attacking midfielder from a plethora of enviable options. It\u2019s one thing to do that with Spain<\/a>, where the method is more commonly accepted. But there would likely be a lot of pushback with England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s not to rule out the idea, but the unpopularity of it would make it a bigger commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
England’s striking options<\/h5>\n\n\n