Kane will break my England record - Rooney backs 'natural goalscorer' to usurp Three Lions tally

Harry Kane will exceed Wayne Rooney's prolific goalscoring haul for England to become the new Three Lions record holder, according to the latter who believes he will be usurped by his former international teammate.

Former Manchester United and Everton forward Rooney surpassed Bobby Charlton's benchmark during a long international career, sealing 53 goals in 120 appearances for his country.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur and Wayne Rooney of Everton battle for possession during the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on September 9, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

However, the 34-year-old says that he expects there will not be a 50-year-wait for the record to be broken once more, pointing to current captain Kane as the man he anticipates taking the honour from him.

The Tottenham striker has already 32 goals in just 45 England appearances, with Rooney admitting that the 26-year-old is more of a proven natural than he ever was, acknowledging that he feels he should have netted more for both club and country during the peak of his playing days.

"I'm going to be honest - and this might surprise you - but I'm not a natural goalscorer," he wrote in his Sunday Times column.

"I hold the goal records for Manchester United and England and am very proud about that - yet there have been better number nines than me.

© 2020 Getty Images ENFIELD, ENGLAND: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur trains during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at The Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on March 09, 2020 in Enfield, England. Tottenham Hotspur will face RB Leipzig in their UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match on March 10, 2020. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

"How did I become a record-breaker if I wasn't a natural scorer? Time. I played for United for 13 years, England for 15 years. I had time to break those records - and looking back I should have scored more.

"I don't think it will take long for Harry Kane to claim my England record and it would be a proud moment for me.

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"I've never been a selfish player and it would be great for England for Harry to get there. Bobby Charlton had to wait 50 years [for me to break his England record] - I hope it's not so long for me.

"The United record might last longer simply because players don't stay at clubs as long as they used to.

England's striker Harry Kane (R) gestures as he talks with England's striker Wayne Rooney during a team training session in Watford, north of London, on June 1, 2016. England are set to play Portugal in an international friendly football match at Wembley on June 2, ahead of Euro 2016. / AFP / GLYN KIRK / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

"Mind you, if [Lionel] Messi or [Cristiano] Ronaldo came to Old Trafford for a swansong they'd probably break it in three or four years!"

Rooney, now a player-coach with Championship side Derby County, won 12 major honours during his time with United.

He departed Old Trafford to return to Everton for the 2017-18 season and had a spell at DC United in MLS before joining Derby.