Blogs

Southgate to hold Kane fitness talks

|
Image for Southgate to hold Kane fitness talks

Gareth Southgate will hold talks with captain Harry Kane to determine the striker’s fitness levels ahead of England’s upcoming games against Spain and Switzerland, according to the Mirror.

The newspaper reports that the World Cup Golden Boot winner, on a reported £200k-per-week at Tottenham, will be consulted by the Three Lions boss to determine his fitness.

The Spurs star only had a short break after World Cup duty before returning to his club, and Southgate is concerned by the impact of fatigue on his players.

The 25-year-old is almost certain to start against Spain in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, but may be rested for the Switzerland friendly three days later.

OPINION

This is another example of Southgate’s sophisticated approach to management. Kane, like a lot of England’s World Cup stars, will have emerged rather tired from this summer’s heroic efforts. The Spurs striker played a vital role in his country’s run to the semi-final, and was promptly back in the Tottenham team for their season opener against Newcastle at St James’ Park. That’s a gruelling schedule, especially for someone who plays every available minute for his club. Southgate is right to check on him. If there’s any fatigue present, then Kane needs to be rested for the Switzerland game, it’s only a friendly after all. It would also be good for Southgate to see how his team fares without their talisman up front, and the Swiss encounter seems like an ideal time to do that. But for Spain, Kane will surely start no matter how tired he is. Points are on the line there, and Southgate needs his best player ready for the test Luis Enrique’s team represents.

Share this article