Harry Kane has hit back at England’s armchair critics and told the stadium boo boys to remain patient with the national team.

England’s travelling supporters booed and chanted ‘we’re f------ s---’ during the 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Malta, in which Gareth Southgate’s team scored three late goals.

The performance also received criticism from fans who watched the game on television. But, when asked about accusations that players do not have enough pride in the England shirt, Kane said: “It takes a lot of commitment to reach the top… start from a young age, dedication and you have to be a top professional to play for your country.

“Anyone who says that, I don’t think they understand what it takes and it’s probably why they’re sitting at home watching and we’re out there playing. I’m extremely proud to represent my country and I know the other players are.”

Manager Southgate claimed the England players would have to get used to fans showing their frustration inside the stadium, but Kane, who scored twice against Malata, has called for calm ahead of Monday night’s vital qualifier against Slovakia.

England are on 17 points, two points ahead of Slovakia in Group F, with the two teams due to meet at Wembley.

Not only would a win put England in charge of the group, and virtually seal automatic qualification for Russia next year, but it would give their closest neighbours - and rivals - a major boost for a play-off place.

Scotland - on 11 points to Slovakia's 15 - could do with a a Sassenach lifeline in their bid to finish second and so have a chance qualify for their first major tournament since the World Cup in France in 1998.

After a strong 3-0 win away at Lithuania on Friday, Scotland would go just one point behind Slovakia if England win and they beat Malta at Hampden, with matches against both Slovakia (home) and Slovenia (away) to come in October.

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Kane said: “We’re by no means the finished article, there’s still a lot for us to work on. We’ve got to stay patient as a country together, it’s not going to happen overnight. There are a lot of very good teams, obviously France winning 4-0. So there’s still a lot of preparations from now until the World Cup and it’s a big game on Monday night where we can put a big marker down. From our point of view, as a country, we just need to stay patient, stay relaxed and see what happens.”

On the booing against Malta, Kane added: “Everyone just needs to stay patient. Obviously they (the fans) can be frustrated, we were frustrated in that first half, of course we always want to blow teams away in the first half, but it doesn’t always happen like that, especially games when people always underestimate the opposition and especially away from home.

“They (the fans) just have to stay patient as we did in the game and we scored four very good goals in the end. When people looked at this on Saturday morning and saw a 4-0 result they’d say that’s what people would have expected.”

Kane says the England players accept that supporters will not be won over by qualifying for the World Cup, following the disastrous Euro 2016 elimination to Iceland.

“Yes, that’s understandable you know,” said Kane. “At the end of the day, we’ve done well at this stage before but it’s all about the tournament. That’s nothing we can control for now, all we can try to do is qualify, try to play good football, try to learn and get better, that’s all we can do and then what happens in a tournament, happens in a tournament.

Kane scored twice to end his brief goal drought credit: getty images

“But for now we just need to stay patient. We know what we need to do, the manager knows what he wants, so we have just got to try to do it.”

Kane has scored five goals in his last three England appearances and 10 in 20 international appearances overall.

“When you’re a striker everyone kind of looks to you for the goals, so I’m happy to be there and happy to get those goals, get the important goals,” said Kane. “If anyone else can score it’s great as well, as it was on Friday.

“It’s a normal feeling. As a player, as a striker, people expect you to score and I’ll carry that burden and I’ll relish it, and it gives me confidence when I do score.

“It’s about setting little targets, so five goals, 10 goals. 15 next, that will be good. There’s no rush. In international football it’s tough to score, so I’m happy to get to the 10 mark and, hopefully, I’ll get to the 15 mark as soon as possible.”

On the fact he had scored on September 1 after once again failing to hit the net in August, Kane added: “A few of the lads have been having a laugh saying it was September 1. It’s strange it falls on that date, but it’s great to be on the scoresheet and, hopefully, it will kick-start the season.”

While a victory over Slovakia would put England on the verge of clinching qualification for the World Cup, Kane believes a Wembley win would also be good for the Tottenham contingent in the national team.

Tottenham are yet to win at their temporary home of Wembley this season and Kane said: “We seem to do all right there for England, so for me personally and for the Spurs boys it’d be good to win and take that confidence into the Premier League.”