Harry Kane ‘suffering hangover’ from trophyless Bayern Munich season

Harry Kane has faced criticism for his performances in England's first two group games - Getty Images/Ralf Ibing

Bayern Munich insiders fear Harry Kane may be carrying the burden of his trophyless first season at the club as he attempts to find his best form for England.

Kane has faced criticism for his performances in England’s first two Group C games, despite scoring his side’s only goal in the draw with Denmark.

Questions have been raised over Kane’s match fitness after he missed the final two games of the Bundesliga season with a back problem that forced him off in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid.

With the Bundesliga title already out of reach, Kane sat out of Bayern’s final two games as a precaution, as he attempted to make sure he was in the best possible condition for the Euros.

Despite Kane last week insisting that he had moved on from Bayern’s disappointing end to the season, insiders, who watched England’s first two games at the Euros, are concerned that he may still be carrying the burden of missing out on winning a trophy.

Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur last summer with the aim of ending his personal trophy drought, but the German club failed to win the Bundesliga title for the first time in 12 seasons.

Bayern lost the German Super Cup to RB Leipzig, were knocked out of the German Cup in the second round to third division Saarbruecken and were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid, despite leading when Kane was forced off with a back issue in the 85th minute.

That Champions League heartbreak put even more emphasis on the Euros for England’s record goalscorer Kane, as he attempts to add a team trophy to all of his personal accolades.

Kane was asked about the pressure on him to end his own trophy drought on the eve of England’s first Group C game against Serbia and the 30-year-old said: “I am extremely proud of what I have achieved in my career so far, but I also know that, of course, I want to have trophies to show for it.

“I feel like I’m in a real peak in my career and, hopefully, for the next four or five years especially that will be the case. So there’s going to be opportunities, starting this summer and then again next year with Bayern Munich. So I think the most important thing for me is that I don’t lose motivation and I keep trying to push myself and push the people around me.”

On Bayern’s Champions League heartbreak and trophyless campaign, Kane said: “The season as a whole didn’t go the way I wanted it to or the team wanted it to. I think whenever you have a tough loss or go out in a competition like that, for sure, there is a real hunger and desire that burns inside to make sure that the next time you get there or the next big competition, you have a different outcome.

“That’s the way I always look at it. There is always a chance to get better and to improve. Leaving that game away in Madrid, of course it hurt for a while but then you move on, you come away with the boys and your motivation is now onto the next one. For sure, there is a real hunger for that.”

Kane has received the backing of his England team-mate Jarrod Bowen, who said: “We all know Harry’s quality, how many goals he has scored. He hit the bar against Serbia and scored again the other night.

“And it’s not just that. As a captain, as a person, as a leader, he’s one that has been at the highest level for so many years, scored so many goals. On the pitch, he is incredible and off the pitch, as a person and a leader, I can’t tell you how good he is.

“Of course, he might want to be involved more than he is. But he’s got his goal the other night. He could be sat here with two goals out of the two group games. As a striker sometimes – I’ve played it this season – you’re not involved in the game as much as you want to be. I think that’s just the life of a striker – and then you can score a goal.

“I’m sure he wants to keep scoring as many goals as possible in this tournament. He loves his goals, takes real pride in it. Sometimes you’re a striker and you’re up front against three centre-halves, two centre-halves. But when the opportunity comes we know he can score goals.”

Play The Telegraph’s brilliant range of Puzzles - and feel brighter every day. Train your brain and boost your mood with PlusWord, the Mini Crossword, the fearsome Killer Sudoku and even the classic Cryptic Crossword.