England fans have themselves to blame should Kane become top scorer

Gareth Southgate believes England fans will only have themselves to blame if Harry Kane becomes the country’s leading scorer in an empty stadium.

It is now a question of when and where Kane, whose penalty against Switzerland drew him level with Sir Bobby Charlton on 49 goals, will leapfrog the current record holder Wayne Rooney on 53. The captain has now scored eight goals in his last three appearances.

Kane will look to take a step closer to immortality against Ivory Coast on Tuesday, when Wembley will once again be full, but after that two of the next three fixtures will be played behind closed doors as a consequence of bad fan behaviour.

No supporters will be present in Budapest for the opening Nations League game on June 4, after FIFA punished Hungary for their fans racially abusing England players in a World Cup qualifier last September.

England then face Germany at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 7 before they take on Italy at Molineux on June 11. No fans will be in the stadium for that contest because of the chaos that erupted at the European Championship final last July.

Wembley was packed when Rooney broke Charlton’s record against Switzerland in September 2015 and there would be something very eerie if Kane was to set a new one in near silence.

Southgate hopes that will not be the case but, if it happens, he recognises there can be no complaints.

‘I don’t think Harry will worry where he is playing in terms of the opportunity to break the record,’ said Southgate. 

‘Of course, it would be lovely if it was at Wembley and if it was in the World Cup final it would be absolutely fine!

‘But it would be hugely unfortunate if it was to happen with no fans. The games behind closed doors? Frankly we have seen and had