Roy Keane critiques Adam Wharton for subdued midfield display during England’s 2-0 victory over Albania in Tirana

Roy Keane didn’t hold back when discussing Adam Wharton’s return to the England starting lineup against Albania.

The Crystal Palace midfielder, who has reportedly attracted interest from multiple clubs, lasted just over an hour in the Three Lions’ 2-0 win.

A Steady but Unspectacular Showing

Wharton had a solid presence in midfield but didn’t make a decisive impact.

Both of England’s goals came after he was substituted for Elliot Anderson.

Speaking at half-time, Keane urged the young midfielder to be more assertive and demand the ball if he hopes to challenge the likes of Declan Rice or Anderson in Thomas Tuchel’s setup.

“I like Adam Wharton,” Keane said. “A lot of modern midfielders’ first option seems to be sideways or backwards.

What I like about him is he looks forward first, that’s a big strength.

But he’s a bit soft putting demands on teammates.

Shout at players, go ‘give me the ball!’ That’s what I used to do. He’s still new, so I won’t be too harsh.

But as he plays more, he needs to make himself felt.”

England Complete Perfect Qualifying Campaign

The win in Albania means England finished their World Cup qualifiers unbeaten. Tuchel’s men didn’t concede a single goal across eight games in Group K, scoring 22 and finishing 10 points ahead of second-placed Albania.

Harry Kane Breaks the Deadlock

It took 74 minutes to open the scoring, with captain Harry Kane tapping in a flicked-on header from close range.

The Bayern Munich striker didn’t stop there, doubling England’s lead with a perfectly placed header from Marcus Rashford’s precise cross.

Kane Reflects on Team Effort

After the match, Kane told ITV News: “It was a really tough game, one of the toughest in the group.

We had to be patient and grind them down. We ended up with a 2-0 win and another clean sheet.

If you want to go far in a tournament, you need the whole squad, players off the bench to make an impact.

Football isn’t just about the starting 11; it’s about everyone contributing.”

Looking Ahead to the World Cup

With an unbeaten qualifying run and strong squad depth, England heads into next summer’s World Cup full of confidence.

Players like Wharton will have lessons to take on board, while established stars like Kane and Rashford continue to lead the way.