England skipper Harry Kane is set to be RESTED for final Euro 2020 warm-up game against Romania, with Spurs star using a personal fitness regime in bid to fire Three Lions to glory
Harry Kane is set to miss out on England’s final Euro 2020 warm-up against Romania on Sunday so he can focus on being fully fit for the tournament.
The England captain is being treated with kid gloves ahead of the Euros given his litany of ankle injuries and he did not even train with the rest of the squad on Friday.
Manager Gareth Southgate is already lumbered with the headache of sweating on Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson‘s respective fitness, and he said Kane, who played in England’s 1-0 win over Austria, is preparing for the tournament ahead.
Gareth Southgate has said Harry Kane will be rested for Sunday’s warm-up versus Romania
Kane is doing a personal fitness regime and did not train with the rest of the squad on Friday
‘He is following an individual programme,’ Southgate said. ‘Across the group we have three or four players who, on different days might miss elements of training but there are no concerns.
‘I don’t think we’ll involve him (against Romania). The plan is not to involve him in the game, so that has allowed him to do some gym-based work.’
Players from Chelsea and Manchester City will still be rested despite being unavailable against Austria because of involvement in the Champions League final.
But Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford of Manchester United are both likely to make an appearance.
Kane (left) won’t play against Romania so he can do ‘some gym-based work’ said Southgate
Luke Shaw (left) and Marcus Rashford (right) are likely to make appearances against Romania
Southgate said: ‘It’s more likely we will see the boys that were involved in the Europa League final, they’ve been with us a bit longer.
‘The others reported a bit later, I don’t think the training periodisation would be right to put them into Sunday’s game.’
Some welcome news for Southgate is that Henderson will finally return to the football pitch against Romania.
The Liverpool midfielder, who hasn’t played a game since February due to a groin injury, was on the bench against Austria but didn’t come on as he suffered a small set-back in his recovery.
But Southgate reported that Henderson has made good progress and will feature on Sunday.
Southgate confirmed Jordan Henderson will play his first football for three months on Sunday
‘The plan, as it was on Wednesday, will be that Henderson’s involved in the game – the last two, three days training have been a lot more positive for him,’ Southgate said.
‘I think the confidence of having a scan that showed no issues, has helped him to push forward with his rehabilitation and with his training so he’s, he’s been visibly happier within himself I think and that’s a positive sign.’
Sunday’s game is a final chance for Southgate to tinker with his tactics given the likelihood that Maguire will miss England’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia in just seven day’s time.
However, with so many potential first-team players still unavailable, the team that walks out against Romania is highly unlikely to look much like the side that will start next weekend.