DEFENDER Liam Ridehalgh admits England captain Harry Kane seemed to turn into “a monster” overnight, as he recalled seeing the superstar striker at close quarters a decade ago.
The Tottenham man has hit his stride now at Euro 2020, netting three goals in his last two games, and could be a key figure yet again when the Three Lions host Denmark in the semi-final at Wembley tonight.
But Kane was playing in a very different environment 10 years ago.
He was on loan at Leyton Orient when he faced Ridehalgh’s Huddersfield Town back in February 2011.
The League One clash finished 2-2, with future Bantams striker Lee Novak helping the Terriers into a 2-0 lead, before Kane netted Orient’s first in their comeback.
Ridehalgh said: “I’ve not played with any of the lads in the England squad, but I’ve come up against a few in the past, and I do remember when Harry Kane was on loan at Leyton Orient.
“At Huddersfield, we just knew him as some young lad from Tottenham but obviously he’s come on leaps and bounds since then.
“He must have done some real work with the fitness guys at Spurs because one year he was just a skinny kid then the next he was a monster.”
Kane is one of a number of players in the England squad to have spent time on loan in the EFL as a youngster, and Ridehalgh said: “Those loans are what the EFL is for for Premier League clubs.
“The players come down to play men’s football, so to speak, which means they’re more ready to play at their parent clubs and ready for the Premier League.”
City’s players will all be watching tonight, on their first day of their training camp in Scotland.
Asked if the likes of Scottish boss Derek Adams and lynchpin Irish defender Paudie O’Connor have been on the wind-up, Ridehalgh said: “There’s not been too much teasing.
“Ninety-five per cent of us support England, so even the ones who don’t are with us to a certain extent I think.
“I think on Saturday against Ukraine, England showed what they can produce against anyone, and they were smart by playing what was in front of them.
“I think it will be a harder test against Denmark, especially with what’s happened to Christian Eriksen (who had a cardiac arrest on the pitch in the Danes’ opening group match), they seem to have a spring in their step.
“But I do predict a 2-1 England win still. I’m not sure who will be out wide, as Gareth Southgate keeps changing it up, but I hope Jack Grealish plays.
“I really rate him and I think he can be important for us. If he does play I think he’ll get an assist or score.”
Asked for his own favourite memories of England, Ridehalgh said: “I can’t remember too many specific ones, but I always follow them every couple of years at major tournaments.
“The World Cup in 2018 was an exciting one, as everyone thought that England were starting to become a real force, and they’ve carried that on into Euro 2020.”
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