Michael Carrick has insisted that England teammate Harry Kane will become even better with time following his impressive breakthrough season in the Premier League.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker has scored 29 goals in all competitions this season, including a hat-trick against Leicester City last time out as he celebrated his first Three Lions senior call-up in style.

Far from being a one-off, Carrick has backed the youngster to push on and achieve success for both club and country in the coming years.

"I think he's been sensational," the experienced Manchester United midfielder is quoted as saying by Goal.com. "If you look at the start of the season to the level he's at now, he's jumped a couple of levels at least.

"What's impressed me most is that as the spotlight has grown on him and he's given more praise, and as defenders are becoming more aware of him, he's taken his game on and kept producing. He had a big call-up to the England squad and then scored a hat-trick at the weekend. It's almost like he thrives on that little bit of pressure and expectation to do what he's done.

"And it looks like there's more to come from him. We've only had the one training session but he's got a real presence and, having played against him a couple of times, I've been hugely impressed with him. Sometimes players have a good spell and then drop away, but I don't see that with him. You can see the progression and see him really fulfilling that over a period of time."

England boss Roy Hodgson yesterday played down rumours suggesting that Kane will be handed his full debut against Lithuania on Friday night.