When Thomas Tuchel named his latest England squad, the message was hard to miss. There was only one out-and-out centre-forward included. Harry Kane stood alone.
In previous generations, England’s squads were defined by an abundance of traditional number nines. Names such as Alan Shearer, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Les Ferdinand were once competing for the same role. Today, the competition has all but disappeared.
Injuries partly explain the current situation. Ollie Watkins has been rested to manage an ongoing issue, Dominic Solanke has been sidelined since August, and Liam Delap is only just returning after two months out. Even so, the lack of depth is striking.
Tuchel has turned instead to versatile attackers. Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden and Anthony Gordon can all operate centrally if needed, but none are natural penalty-box forwards in the traditional sense.
This shift reflects a broader trend in English football. Modern academies increasingly prioritise versatility, pressing intensity and technical flexibility. Young forwards are encouraged to drift wide, drop deep and interchange positions, rather than specialise as classic goal poachers.
The Premier League has also played its part. Many clubs rely on overseas strikers, limiting opportunities for English centre-forwards to develop at the highest level. Those who do emerge are often repurposed into hybrid roles to fit tactical systems that value mobility over physical presence.
As a result, England’s attacking structure has become heavily dependent on Kane. At 32, he remains among the most complete forwards in world football, but the reliance is risky. When Kane is unavailable or neutralised, England lack a like-for-like alternative.
For Tuchel, the challenge is twofold. In the short term, he must find ways to maximise Kane’s influence while preparing contingency plans that do not rely on a traditional number nine. In the longer term, English football faces deeper questions about how it develops strikers.
The great English number nine is not extinct, but it is endangered. Until a new generation is encouraged to specialise again, Kane’s isolation at the top of England’s attack may become the new normal rather than a temporary anomaly.
