Harry Kane has blamed the influence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the lack of current number nines in the game.
He credits the two footballing behemoths for encouraging new players to be wingers rather than taking up the traditional striker role.
Kane has made his own case for being listed among the best in the number nine role. He netted his 50th goal in the Bundesliga in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Augsburg last week, reaching the milestone in just 43 appearances.
It smashed the previous record of 50 set by Erling Haaland during his time at Borussia Dortmund.
"The game is changing a little bit. The way coaching is now [means] a lot of players grow up wanting to be wingers,” Kane told TNT Sport Brazil.
"I think Messi and Cristiano dominated for a long, long time playing off the wings. I think a lot of players wanted to watch them.
"When I was growing up, I had some of the best strikers in the world [to watch], so I wanted to be a number nine.
"That’s just the way football goes. I think, tactically, some managers play with a false nine, or a nine-and-a-half or 10 position.
"But for sure, when I was growing up at number nine, there were some incredible players."
Kane certainly took note, becoming a complete striker. Of Kane's 50 Bundesliga goals, 10 have come from penalties, while 32 of them have been with his right foot, nine with his left and nine with his head.
He is also the quickest Bayern player to hit 50 league goals for the club, surpassing Robert Lewandowski's previous record of 64 games by a staggering 21 matches.
The England captain, who is preparing for a Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, drew particular inspiration from Brazilian great Ronaldo.
"I think we’re totally different players in the way we play, but ultimately, the way he used to finish was as good as anyone, as well as the way he moved with the ball,” Kane added.
"His dribbling ability. His movement. I think he was as good as anyone in the world. He had a lot more ability than me if I’m totally honest. He had good pace as well.
"But for me growing up, I tried to watch all the best strikers in the world, and he was in his prime at the time.
"It was a joy to watch him, and it’s been nice to score a few goals myself and take a few bits from his game."
Conte 'realistic' about Napoli's Scudetto ambitions despite strong start
Antonio Conte insisted his feet remain firmly planted on the ground despite Napoli's impressive start to the season which sees them at the summit of the Serie A table.
Napoli have taken 29 points from their opening 13 league games, a point more than Atalanta, Inter, Fiorentina and Lazio in a tightly-packed battle at the top of the standings.
Conte's side have impressed this season, particularly in defence, keeping eight clean sheets, with only Juventus (10) producing more in the top five European leagues.
The 55-year-old has won four Scudetto titles during his managerial career but was not getting carried away when asked about adding another to his collection.
"We have to be realistic and know that we're only on day 13 and there are six teams within a few points," Conte told reporters on Friday.
"It's a balanced league so far, and, in my opinion, I don't think it will stay that way until the end.
"At the end of the first half of the season, it [the list of contenders] will start to get a little longer. But we're pleased, it shows the work we're doing is good, and I'm happy.
"Day after day we're laying important foundations and I see a continuous growth as a team but also as individuals."
Up next for Napoli is a trip to the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino to face 11th-placed Torino, who are without a win in their last four Serie A matches.
But Paolo Vanoli's side will have confidence of ending that winless streak after their showings against Napoli last season.
They went unbeaten in their two matches against Napoli last term (W1 D1), after a run of five defeats in a row, and could go at least three consecutive matches unbeaten against the Partenopei for the first time since between December 2007 and November 2012 in Serie A (run of five – W3 D2).
"It [Torino] is a solid group, it has good quality, it's in mid-table in a quiet way and without a win for a long time, so there are values," Conte said.
"I live in Turin, almost every Sunday I have the pleasure of going to see the game, and it's an environment that I know, nice and warm, strong, attached to history.
"We'll have to be very careful. It's a game to be approached in the right way, with respect for the quality of the opponent and the environment that we'll find and their history."
Liverpool dealt Konate injury blow ahead of Man City encounter
Ibrahima Konate confirmed he is set for a spell on the sidelines ahead of Liverpool's blockbuster clash against Manchester City on Sunday.
Konate was one of the standout performers for the Reds during their Champions League victory over Real Madrid in midweek but appeared to pick up an injury late in the game.
The Frenchman tangled with Madrid's young Brazilian winger Endrick, which left him lying prone on the turf, though he was able to complete the 90 minutes.
However, Konate is expected to miss this weekend's tantalising tie against Pep Guardiola's out-of-form City side, with reports suggesting he could miss up to 11 games.
"So frustrating to pick up this injury right at the end of a great game on Wednesday night," Konate posted to Instagram.
"Now we start the recovery process, but one thing I promise is I will come back and be the best I can be once again.
"Thank you for the amazing support at Anfield. Inshallah, we will keep going, and I will support the team every step of the way."
Konate's absence is a huge blow for Arne Slot's side, with the Frenchman having formed an imperious partnership alongside Virgil van Dijk this season.
The Reds have conceded just 12 goals from their 19 games in all competitions so far this term, with Konate playing a huge role in their new-found defensive resilience.
Only Van Dijk (40) has won more aerial duels in the Premier League for Liverpool this season than Konate (28), while the Frenchman has made more blocks (five) than any of his team-mates.
Van Nistelrooy announced as new Leicester head coach
Leicester City confirmed that Ruud van Nistelrooy has become their new head coach following the sacking of Steve Cooper.
Cooper was dismissed following the Foxes' 2-1 defeat to Chelsea last Saturday, their fifth game in all competitions without a victory.
Van Nistelrooy most recently took interim charge of Manchester United after they parted ways with Erik ten Hag following a poor start to the season earlier this month.
The Dutchman won three of his four games at the helm, with two of those victories coming against Leicester in the Premier League and the EFL Cup.
Speaking to LCFC.com, Van Nistelrooy said: “I’m proud, I’m excited. Everybody that I speak to about Leicester City football club is enthusiastic.
"They have great stories about the quality of the people working at the club, the supporters and, of course, the recent history of the club is impressive.
"I’m excited to start and to get to know everyone and give everything I can for the Football Club.”
This is Van Nistelrooy's first full-time role since May 2023, when he spent one full season in charge of PSV Eindhoven.
During his time with the Eredivisie side, he won 33 of his 51 games in charge (D10 L8), averaging a win percentage of 64.71%, while also scooping the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield.
Leicester travel to Brentford this Saturday, with first-team coach Ben Dawson overseeing matchday duties ahead of Van Nistelrooy's arrival.
The Dutchman's first game in charge will be next Tuesday, when the Foxes host fellow bottom-half side West Ham at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.
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