CHRIS SUTTON: Gareth Southgate is a bigger man than Jose Mourinho if he rests Harry Kane against Wales… the Tottenham boss has had prime opportunities to give his star man a break and yet continued to play him
- Harry Kane is in line to be rested for England’s friendly at Wembley against Wales
- Jose Mourinho engaged in war of words with Gareth Southgate over Kane’s use
- But Mourinho hasn’t rested Kane and so the England boss can be the bigger man
After their to-ing and fro-ing, Gareth Southgate could have stuck two fingers up at Jose Mourinho and started Harry Kane for this friendly against Wales.
Tottenham were 4-1 up at half-time against Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League, yet Mourinho kept Kane on until the 75th minute.
They were 4-1 up at half-time against Manchester United in the Premier League, yet Kane played the entire match.
Gareth Southgate can cement himself as the bigger man in his dispute with Jose Mourinho
The Tottenham boss (right) wants Southgate to rest Harry Kane but he continues to use him
Two prime opportunities to take off his star striker, whose demanding schedule is causing concern.
Yet Mourinho didn’t and he called his counterpart ‘Gary’ along the way, which you wouldn’t blame Southgate for taking as a sign of disrespect.
Reports suggest Southgate will rest Kane and start Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Good on the England boss.
Tottenham were 4-1 up at half-time against Manchester United but Kane continued to feature
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is likely to come in following his strong start to the 2020-21 season
One, he will come out of this looking like the bigger man.
And two, if Kane is saved for the Nations League fixtures, Calvert-Lewin will get the chance his free-scoring start to the season deserves.
It will be good to see how the Everton striker fares. Southgate should see this tie as a chance to experiment and I’d also like to see Nick Pope start instead of Jordan Pickford in goal.
