Harry Kane has launched a blistering attack on England’s drop outs - and accused them of “taking advantage.”
England interim boss Lee Carsley has seen a staggering EIGHT players pull out through injury ahead of their Nations League double header with Greece and Republic of Ireland.
Manchester City duo Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, Liverpool full back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea stars Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer, Southampton keeper Aaron Ramsdale and Arsenal pair Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka all pulled out on Monday.
But Kane insisted that would not have happened under Gareth Southgate because he changed the culture of representing England and he refused to accept players pulling out. England captain Kane did not hold back as he insisted representing his country is “the most important thing” and admits it has already “started to drift.”
England’s new boss Thomas Tuchel does not take over until January 1 and a raft of big names have cried off sick and are blaming the demanding fixture list at this part of the season. But Kane, who will captain England for their Nations League clash in Greece, told ITV: “I think England comes before anything. It comes before club and it is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer.
“Gareth was on hot on that and he wasn’t afraid and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players. It’s a shame this week obviously. Yeah, I think it’s a tough period of the season and maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit.
“I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think as I just said there England comes before before anything, any club situation. The joy to play for England. I think Gareth brought that back. Every camp, people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and, yeah, that’s the most important thing.”
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Arsenal stars Rice and Saka both asked to be substituted in the Gunners' weekend draw with Chelsea. They weren't the only ones unable to complete 90 minutes of their respective teams' matches, with Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold forced off in the first half of his team's victory over Aston Villa.
Morgan Rogers, Jarrod Bowen, Jarrad Branthwaite, Tino Livramento and James Trafford have all been called up to the squad for the upcoming matches. West Ham captain Bowen was part of Southgate's Euro 2024 squad, but - at the other end of the scale - Aston Villa star Rogers has earned a senior call-up for the first time.
England sit second in their Nations League group after losing to Greece during the October break. They can still seal automatic promotion to League A if they win both games this month, while second place in their group would see them enter a promotion/relegation play-off.
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