Gareth Southgate confirms Harry Kane is NOT injured after being left on the bench for the crucial Nations League clash against Belgium as the Tottenham striker feels the effects of fatigue after a hectic schedule
- Harry Kane was left out of England’s starting line-up for the Belgium game
- The England captain has been suffering with fatigue, said Gareth Southgate
- The Tottenham forward has played in ten matches already this season
- Spurs boss Jose Mourinho asked Southgate to rest his star striker this month
Gareth Southgate confirmed Harry Kane is not injured after being left out of the starting line-up for the Nations League game against Belgium on Sunday night.
The Three Lions captain was named on the bench for the Nations League clash at Wembley and was not in the matchday squad for the win over Wales in midweek.
Kane has been part of a hectic schedule at Tottenham and even turned out four times for the north Londoners last week, forcing Spurs boss Jose Mourinho to plead with Southgate to give him a rest in the international break.
Harry Kane (far right) was left out of England’s starting line-up against Belgium on Sunday
Gareth Southgate (left) claimed Kane (right) barely trained in the week due to fatigue
Speaking before the Belgium clash, Southgate said: ‘He’s had a strange training week, we gave him a couple days recovery and he started training on Wednesday.
‘He had a bit of cramp, so he’s had muscle fatigue and missed most of the week’s training.
‘He got a little more confident towards the end of the week but hasn’t done enough to start. So he’s not injured, perhaps (he can feature) later in the game.
Clearly no Kane no Sterling is a big loss but it’s great opportunities for others and this is the type of test we need.’
Kane has played ten games already this season despite the season being a month old
Despite the season being only a month old, Kane has already featured eight times for Spurs and twice for England, scoring eight goals and registering seven assists.
Tottenham were forced to enter the Europa League at the second qualifying round and had to play three additional matches in September and October, while the Premier League side have also made their way to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
This intense run of matches meant Mourinho publicly called for Southgate to not include Kane in the triple-header during this international break.
Kane’s omission will be great news for Jose Mourinho (above) who wanted his striker rested
Dominic Calvert-Lewin started the Belgium match in Kane’s place at Wembley on Sunday
Mourinho said at the start of the month: ‘What I can promise to my friend Steve Holland and for Gary (sic) not to be jealous.
‘For my friend Gary, I can promise that until the end of the season I don’t play Harry Kane one minute of any friendly match.’
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin picked up Kane’s number 9 shirt on Sunday night after his dream debut against Wales on Thursday.
The 23-year-old scored in the first-half of the Wembley match as the Three Lions ran out 3-0 winners.
England’s clash with Belgium is their second game of the October international break, with Southgate’s side taking on Denmark on Wednesday.