Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has delivered a frank assessment of Adam Wharton's performance, labelling the young midfielder's display in England's 2-0 victory over Albania as 'a bit soft'.
Keane's Half-Time Verdict
While praising the Crystal Palace player's natural inclination to pass forward, a trait Keane admires in modern midfielders, the ITV pundit urged for more vocal leadership from the 20-year-old. Speaking at half-time, Keane admitted he likes Wharton but insisted the player must mature and start making greater demands on his teammates.
'Put demands onto people,' Keane asserted. 'He's a bit soft there. Shout at players, go "give me the ball!". That's what I used to do, I used to fall out with people a lot.' The 54-year-old former midfielder did offer some leniency, acknowledging that Wharton is 'still new to it', but emphasised that putting demands on teammates is the next step in his development at the top level.
A Steady Hour for Wharton
Wharton, who is reportedly attracting attention from several clubs, was handed a return to the starting eleven for the final Group K qualifier. He turned in a steady, if unspectacular, performance in the centre of the park, lasting just over an hour before being substituted for Elliot Anderson.
Intriguingly, both of England's goals were scored after Wharton had left the pitch, though his initial hour of work contributed to the team's controlled possession.
Kane Seals Perfect Campaign
The match itself was a hard-fought affair, with England needing patience to break down a resurgent Albanian side. The deadlock was finally broken in the 74th minute by captain Harry Kane, who tapped in from close range after a flick-on from a Bukayo Saka corner.
The Bayern Munich striker didn't have to wait long for his and England's second, expertly directing a header into the net from a pinpoint Marcus Rashford cross. The 2-0 result confirmed a flawless qualifying campaign for the Three Lions under manager Thomas Tuchel.
England finished Group K with a perfect record of eight wins from eight games, scoring 22 goals and conceding none. They ended the group a commanding ten points clear of second-placed Albania.
Speaking after the match, Kane highlighted the squad's strength and the difficulty of the encounter. 'It was a really tough game, one of the toughest we had in the group,' Kane told ITV News. 'We had to be patient and grind them down which we did.'
