If someone can answer the question about what England does in the pointed department after Harry Kane, it is probably Lee Carsley.
Not only because in two of his six games that were in charge of the senior team, he started without a mane and not just because he has worked closely with Liam Delap, in the FA seen as the most likely long -term successor.
But also because Carsley can see the way in which the English football is trending to have a smorgas board of attacking midfielders, no 10s and wing players, with less traditional no. 9s.
Kane will be 32 next month and is not really in danger that he is not the most important man for Thomas Tuchel on the World Cup 2026.
Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke, Ivan Toney and Delap are fighting to his Understudy. They have 27 senior caps between them, of which 18 belong to Watkins.
A lack of emerging options at number 9 is nothing new for Carsley. He started without a recognized striker in the 2-1 defeat through Greece last November with the seniors, while last night he went to the European Under 21 Championship with only one recognized striker, Jay Stansfield, in his 23-man team.
It is an approach that he sees as a creativity exercise, an opportunity to mix things, just as he did when England won the euro under the 21 title with one striker, Cameron Archer, in the group two years ago.
Folarin Balogun was declared for Team USA on the eve of the euro, even though it is eligible for England and to be a real option. This time, Delap's £ 30 million switched to Chelsea saw his dedication of the euros shifting to the World Cup club.
“We have to be creative with our team selection and the way we try to get the players in the team,” said Carsley. “It is clear that it is not trying to replace Like, but try to play to the strengths of the players, and we can do that.”
In the last preparation match, against Portugal in March, Carsley let us think in his thinking by playing two no. 10s from Omari Hutchinson as a false nine. Harvey Elliott, the top scorer of England in qualifying for the euros, was from the left with the 18-year-old Arsenal Talent Ethan Nwaneri from the right. Liquid, pace and deception was the order of things and can be expected in Slovakia comparable.
“It makes no sense that I try to do what we have just done in the past and expect it to just work,” said Carsley. 'It is important that we try to get the best out of every player we have. That means playing differently.
'That is not the way I want to play, but it is the way that best suits the players. It is important that we are creative when we win major tournaments. If we are going to win, we have to make sure we are out of the comfort zone, and I take myself in it. '
As creative as Carsley is planning to get – and he gave every impression that this euro title defense could include different systems and different players in new or relatively new roles – there is a striker to fall back in Stansfield.
After he saw him fall to League One in a £ 15 million transfer to Birmingham before he won promotion, Carsley knows that the moment will not be too big for Stansfield if and when he is asked to put the team on his back.
'Even when Jay plays as a nine, you see him wandering to the left in terms of that inner pocket. That is a position he can play for us, “he said. 'I also saw him play wide, I only saw him playing nine. He had a good season in Birmingham.
'One of the great things for me is the pressure he has had to deal with. Payed a lot of money for him, received that promotion, scored many goals. He brings that to this team for us is a big thing. '
No Delap, not probably nine, but no worries for Carsley.
Those who are concerned about the future of England's attack can be wise to follow the example in the trust of the 'creative' process of Nouveau.