Selection for the England national team has always been a case of winners and losers; old pros enjoying the greatest form of their career suddenly eclipsed by the new kid on the block; prodigious talents earning their first few caps amid a wave of typically English overhype, soon brought back down to earth by one of the Three Lions regulars returning from injury.

The latest winner on the England scene is indisputably Harry Kane, an apparent crossbreed of Alan Shearer and Teddy Sherringham according to Les Ferdinand, the Three Lions' answer to Thomas Muller according to Sir Geoff Hurst, who netted his first senior international goal just 79 seconds and three touches into his England debut last Friday night - albeit, against 94th-FIFA-ranked Lithuania. It certainly bodes well for a long-term future with the national team, not to mention a starting berth in the friendly against Italy on Tuesday.

But if Kane from the Lane is England's latest benefactor, who does his sudden rise to super-stardom come at the expense of?

We know it won't be captain Wayne Rooney, one of just two players in Roy Hodgson's current squad with more than 50 caps, now just two goals shy of equally Bobby Charlton's all-time top-scorer record. It probably won't be Danny Welbeck either; despite having a marmite effect on the public and a Premier League record of just 30 goals in 139 appearances, the Arsenal forward's tactical utility and industry cannot be overstated, whilst his England return, 14 in 33, is comparatively formidable. He's one of Hodgson's pet favourites.

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In terms of out-and-out centre-forwards, that leaves England and Liverpool's forgotten man, Daniel Sturridge. He withdrew from the England squad before the Lithuania contest amid news his latest hip injury could see him sidelined for at least four weeks - rather troublingly, the 14th injury of his 26-month Anfield career. And with Kane now producing the goods both internationally and domestically, rising to the top of the Premier League's scoring charts with a hat-trick against Leicester two weekends ago, the 25-year-old may struggle to find his way back into Roy Hodgson's plans.

After all, Sturridge has been a bit of a slow burner for England, going without a goal until 2013 - two years and five caps following his Three Lions debut - during an 8-0 thrashing of San Marino. Scoring against Italy at the 2014 World Cup constitutes his international career's undoubted high point; barring that however, the Liverpool front-man has netted only past relative minnows Montenegro, Peru and Denmark - and only against the latter was his goal the ultimate difference in the result.

Obviously, Sturridge can only play who he's fielded against, and England's usual profligacy going forward can hardly be placed solely on him - it's a problem that's haunted us for generations.

Yet, in comparison to his superfluous displays for Liverpool, those magical moments of individual goal-scoring brilliance, that lethal return of 35 goals in 54 appearances, the unique blend of pace, trickery and finishing ability he offers, the former Manchester City and Chelsea youngster has never quite delivered on the international stage.

He's remained largely anonymous when failing to find the net and persistently struggled to combine well with Wayne Rooney - an essential task for any striker playing in Hodgson's side.

If Kane strikes a better understanding with the Manchester United front-man - tomorrow's tie with Italy giving him the first opportunity to do so - Sturridge's England days could well be numbered. Although it seems unlikely Hodgson will leave the Liverpool forward out of his squads all together, there's unquestionably a more prevalent hero in our midst.

For now however, that doesn't bare thinking about for Sturridge. Before even considering how he might compare to Kane in the mind of the England manager, it's imperative he gets himself back on the pitch. Judging by his injury problems this season, the 25-year-old's best years at all levels may have already passed him by.

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