They're out to get you! Skipper Wayne Rooney warns Harry Kane of Italy's DIRTY tricks

Posted Tuesday, March 31, 2015 by Express.co.uk

HARRY KANE will make his first start for England tonight with Wayne Rooney warning he faces a test of his temperament as well as his talent from Italy's streetwise backline.

English football's man of the moment will be unleashed here in tandem with Theo Walcott as Rooney prepares to play at the top of a midfield diamond which will be anchored by Phil Jones.

England coach Roy Hodgson will tweak his system here for the friendly but the inclusion of Kane, who scored 79 seconds after making his debut against Lithuania, will mark another step up in the Tottenham striker's development.

"Italian defenders are clever defenders," said Rooney. "They do anything to try and stop you and you have to be aware of that and not be frustrated.

"It's a passionate country which loves its football. They are probably the closest in Europe to South American teams.

"They're tough to play against, organised, make it as difficult to play against as possible. They're the best in Europe at doing that.

"At the minute, what Harry is doing he must continue doing. He's taking the ball and running at defenders, getting shots at goal.

"That's all he has to do. I'm sure if he does that the way he has been, he'll be fine."

They're out to get you! Skipper Wayne Rooney warns Harry Kane of Italy's DIRTY tricks
Harry Kane will be hoping to make a similar impact in his first start after impressing on his debut

Italy coach Antonio Conte will make a cluster of changes but Hodgson is also planning to switch his system - and personnel - as he seeks to maintain a run of seven successive victories since the World Cup.

The deployment of Rooney at the apex of the diamond is a surprise as will be the use of Jones at the hub of midfield.

There are also likely to be starts for the likes of Chris Smalling and Kieran Gibbs, while Walcott will look to bolster his flagging fortunes at international level alongside Kane in attack.

Hodgson, whose attacking options have been limited by injuries to Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, has been keen to dampen the hysteria which has engulfed Kane.

Yet Rooney admitted the 21-year-old's breakthrough performances this term have given everyone a lift.

"I'm as excited as everyone in the country," said Rooney. "He has had an unbelievable season. Going into the season there were questions whether he would start for Tottenham.

"He was starting the Europa League games but not the league games. But he gave his manager no option but to play him and he has not looked back, scoring goals every week.

"It's exciting for this group of players to train with him. After getting his goal on Friday, I bet he can't wait to get out on the pitch and try and get another goal.

"It's great for English football to have someone scoring so regularly in the Premier League and getting a goal on debut at international level. It's an exciting time for him and all of us."