Former England U21 coach Stuart Pearce admits Tottenham striker Harry Kane was never on his radar.

Pearce lost his job as U21s boss in 2013, when Kane was just 20 — but the former Manchester City manager admits he didn't know anything about him at the time.

He said: “He wasn't even on the radar for the Under-21s at that moment in time.

“But he was a young English player who was making his way in the game.

“So, as a manager in the English set up, you think: 'Wouldn't it be nice if someone picked the phone up and I knew they were at the game that's in the next team above the one I'm playing in at the moment in time."

He added: “I never saw that in Harry in a million years.

“I saw Harry loaned out at Millwall and he had a real tough day at Millwall.

“The home fans were getting on at him a little bit as a Tottenham player on loan, playing for the home club.

“I rang him up the following morning.

“I'd never worked with him in the Under-21s set up and I said: 'Listen, this experience will really stand you good stead some time in the future'."