{
  "id": 20151225,
  "title": "Finding a good backup to Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, or a prime Robert Lewandowski is never easy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/finding-a-good-backup-to-harry-kane-erling-haaland-or-a-prime-robert",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-15T09:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/finding-good-backup-harry-kane-093000382.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Manchester City and England defender Danny Mills has highlighted the challenge of finding a suitable backup striker alongside world-class forwards such as Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Robert Lewandowski. Mills, who played for clubs including Leeds United, Manchester City, and Middlesbrough, noted that while Manchester City managed to win the league without Sergio Aguero, replicating that feat with a different player as a substitute is incredibly difficult. \"It’s very, very difficult to bring in an out-and-out center-forward when you’ve got Erling Haaland in place because you have to bring in someone that is happy to sit on the bench,\" Mills told BOYLE Sports. He pointed out that there are few top strikers who would be content with being the second option and of high quality enough to replace Haaland if needed. This dilemma is not unique to Haaland, as evidenced by Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich and Harry Kane at Manchester City. Both clubs have struggled to find a player willing to accept a backup role behind their star forward. Mills concluded that while these players are undoubtedly talented, convincing them to play in a supporting role is an entirely different challenge.",
  "summary": "Some would say this is one of those good problems to have.",
  "key_points": [
    "Finding a suitable backup striker is extremely challenging.",
    "Only a few top strikers accept backup role.",
    "Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City struggled with this issue."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}