Harry Kane's injury should pave the way for Watford captain Troy Deeney to earn an England call up, according to Ian Wright.

The Spurs striker suffered an ankle injury at the weekend and is facing an extended period on the sidelines.

Kane's injury represents a huge blow for not only Mauricio Pochettino but also Sam Allardyce, whose England team face World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia next month.

Kane's potential absence from the next England squad will give one of the 23-year-old's countrymen an opportunity to step up in his stead and Wright believes Deeney should be the man to benefit.

"That dilemma has been churning away in my mind and there is one player who you think really could do a good job and make the most of a call-up - Troy Deeney," he told the Sun.

"Every time I watch him play for Watford, he is at least a seven-out-of-ten player; often an eight.

"That degree of consistency is difficult to achieve in the Premier League but Deeney ticks a lot of boxes," Wright added.

Deeney has started the season in impressive fashion, scoring two goals in five games to help Watford climb to ninth place in the table.

The 28-year-old remains uncapped, and has suggested he could play for Jamaica if he fails to secure an England call up, but Wright is hopeful Allardyce will continue to recognise players who ply their trade away from England's elite clubs.

"When you play at a so-called 'unfashionable' club such as Watford, a call-up for England means so much and has to be earned the hard way.

"The bigger and more successful clubs dominate our attention - but there are hidden gems elsewhere.

"Allardyce is a brave man, not afraid to make surprise decisions. More power to it and let’s hope Allardyce is not afraid to at least give Deeney a chance," Wright insisted.