Captain Kane: Tottenham forward to lead England in World Cup qualifier on Saturday

Harry Kane is merely a vice captain of Tottenham Hotspur, but tomorrow he’ll wear the captain’s armband for his country. England manager Gareth Southgate announced via Twitter that Kane will be named team captain when England takes on Scotland in a World Cup 2018 qualifier on Saturday in Glasgow.

“Leadership qualities,” “terrific mentality.” That’s Harry, all right. Southgate has worked extensively with Kane in the past, and knows him in and out. For him to be selected ahead of players such as Gary Cahill, Joe Hart, and Wayne Rooney (who, to be fair, was not named to this squad) shows how much Southgate respects him as a leader. This will be the first time that Kane has captained England at the senior level.

This doesn’t mean that Southgate has named him overall England captain -- I imagine that role is still Rooney’s until he retires. But it does kind of foreshadow the possibility that Kane will eventually assume that mantle.

There are five Tottenham Hotspur players named to this particular England roster: Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Kyle Walker, and Kieran Trippier. The match kicks off Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in the UK, noon Eastern time.