World Cup stories: Who's in line to be Harry Kane's understudy at this summer's tournament?

This week, Thomas Tuchel will name an England squad for the Three Lions' final friendlies before the end of the season, where focus will switch to building up to this summer's World Cup. 

There are now 87 days to go until proceedings kick off in North America, and there are still several key issues for the England boss to finalise ahead of deciding who will make the cut for the tournament. 

One of those concerns lies in who is in line to play understudy to the England captain. Harry Kane will go as the team's first choice and focal point of the attack, but there are a plethora of names vying to be the national team's skipper's back-up in times when Kane is in need of a rest, or a 'plan B' is required. 

DAZN News runs the rule over the possible options for Tuchel ahead of Friday's squad announcement. 

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Ollie Watkins 

The man who has filled the role most recently is Watkins, who performed admirably as an understudy to Harry Kane at the last major tournament. 

So much so that at times during Euro 2024, there was some small clamour for Watkins to start ahead of the England captain, and although that notion never materialised, the striker's last-gasp goal against the Netherlands will live long in the memory of England fans. 

Unfortunately, this term hasn't been the Villa forward's best campaign. He's only managed eight league goals, and his club form has been patchy. He's also only managed two appearances under Tuchel since the German took over, suggesting that he's far from convinced if Watkins is a player he sees as a potential back-up to the Three Lions' main man. 

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Dominic Calvert-Lewin 

What a turnaround it's been for the Leeds forward, who, to be honest, looked a bit of a spent force following his release from Everton. 

The injuries looked to have taken their toll on the forward, and his international days were long behind him. But the move to Elland Road has revitalised Calvert-Lewin. 

He's netted 10 goals for Daniel Farke's side, the joint-most by an Englishman in the Premier League, and, having been granted a season where he's been relatively injury-free, is almost back to his best. 

As someone who would be happy to be an option from the bench in the summer, he'd easily slot into a focal point role as he looks to add to the 11 caps and four goals he's already notched up for his country. 

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Danny Welbeck  

Sitting level with Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the top flight's top scoring Englishman, is Danny Welbeck, who's on course for his highest-ever scoring league campaign. 

The Brighton man is in the form of his life and has already been name-checked by the England boss, which would suggest that Tuchel has at least had a look at the 35-year-old. 

Welbeck already has major tournament experience under his belt, having played for his country at Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup, and given his age, would be understanding of the role he'd play if he were to make the plane for the tournament. 
 

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Ivan Toney 

Almost the forgotten man among the England forwards since his move to Saudi Arabia, but it's hard not to rule Toney out when you look at his goalscoring stats this season in the Middle East. 

The former Brentford man has scored 25 in 25 for Al-Ahli, and 33 in all competitions, making him the league's top scorer, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Toney has already been included in a Thomas Tuchel squad, last summer, but the fact that the striker only played a few minutes across two games suggests that the manager wasn't too enamoured with what he'd seen. 

At the moment, it would appear the 30-year-old is an outsider for the spot. 

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Keinan Davis 

Want a wildcard? Then this could be as wild as you get, but there is a small clamour for Tuchel to look in the direction of Serie A and the Udinese man. 

With nine goals to his name, he's among the top goal-scorers in Italy, and is only one behind Calvert-Lewin and Welbeck for most league goals scored by an Englishman in the world’s top 15 leagues in 2025-26. 

While he may not have managed to make a name for himself during his time in the Premier League with Aston Villa, Davis has been a revelation for the Italian side and, now injury-free and scoring goals, could be an ideal back-up option - even at this late stage of the campaign. 

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A false nine 

There is a scenario that Tuchel doesn't bother with a direct replacement for Harry Kane and just uses the array of attacking talent at his disposal instead. 

He has already championed the idea of a 'false 9', with the likes of Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon and even Cole Palmer all able to fill that void in the event that Kane needs a rest or is unable to play. 

Then there's Marcus Rashford, too. A favourite of the England boss, the on-loan Barca man is another who could fill in as an out-and-out forward if need be, as well as his preferred role from the left. 

If there is more use of the attacking players in Tuchel's World Cup plans, then we may not see another striker go to the World Cup after all. 

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