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Harry Kane will be England’s captain for next year's World Cup finals in Russia — and beyond.

Wayne Rooney’s days as a guaranteed starter and skipper for his country are over and new Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate believes Spurs striker Kane, currently recovering from ankle ligament damage, has the qualities to be an England leader.

“Harry has definite leadership qualities,” said Southgate of the Tottenham star. “He’s a very determined, single-minded individual, completely dedicated to improving and he’s having another outstanding season.

“He is in his third season now of playing at a very high level and getting high numbers of goals. It’s great.

“I mean I haven’t been able to bloody to pick him yet [Kane was also out injured for Southgate's four games as interim manager in October and November]!

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"But it looks good for him. And for Tottenham and England. He’s vocal and Harry’s got an opinion, yeah. He’s always happy to speak up in front of the group. As are several others.

“I think I always encourage that amongst players. I think I want to know what they’re thinking. I want to encourage that.

“You then have to manage and deal with that because that can then go in directions you don’t always want it to as a coach. But if you’re prepared to open the floor up then I think it makes a stronger environment.

And England boss Southgate has also identified Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, Manchester United defender Chris Smalling and winger Raheem Sterling of Manchester City as candidates to wear the armband.

(Image: Getty)

“Adam Lallana has definitely impressed me as an individual too. Chris Smalling is captaining Manchester United at the moment but there are other players that talk up well in meetings.

“Raheem Sterling, for example, has impressed me with how willing he has been able to contribute in those sort of meetings with a view of things. I think we can be in a good place with all of that but I think that we have got to build on it too.”

Club and country record-scorer Rooney was left out of the squad after failing to play for Man United at Chelsea in the FA Cup last Monday, due to a knee injury.

The 31-year-old may be back in the United squad visiting Middlesbrough on Sunday – but long term it’s looking bleak for Rooney, who has struggled nail down a starting place since Jose Mourinho took over at Old Trafford last summer.

(Image: Getty)

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Southgate added: “It’s down to how well he plays. He’s not playing a lot of football at the moment and I don’t know what that’s going to look like over the coming weeks.

“But I’m pretty sure he’ll be highly motivated to make that happen. I have to make decisions. I have to make tough calls. I had to do that with this squad.

“Jack Wilshere is a player I really like. Theo Walcott is playing really well. Danny Welbeck I really like.

"But the nature of the job is that you have to make difficult decisions.

“And I don’t think Wayne expects sentimentality to come into those decisions.”