Harry Kane to be left on bench for must-win game with Ollie Watkins to start in attack

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Lee Carsley could be set to spring another surprise with reports suggesting England captain Harry Kane will be left on the bench for tonight’s crucial Nations League game against Greece.

Interim boss Carsley is already without a host of first-team regulars due to a catalogue of withdrawals and it was expected he would rely on the few senior members of the squad still available for the clash in Athens.

But it seems Kane, who after enduring a disappointing Euro 2024 has continued his blistering form in the Bundesliga with 11 goals in 10 games for Bayern Munich, will be among the substitutes when the XI is named later this evening.

Carsley will reportedly start with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins in attack instead. Watkins offers greater athletic threat with his willingness to run in behind but lacks the experience of Kane, England’s record goalscorer.

It is not the first time Carsley has experimented in attack. When Kane was absent for the reverse fixture with Greece at Wembley due to injury, he selected Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden as false nines with Watkins on the bench. The result was a shambolic 2-1 defeat with the Three Lions looking disjointed.

That result means England need to win tonight to avoid the prospect of having to go through the Nations League playoffs in incoming boss Thomas Tuchel’s first games in charge.

The situation could have been easier had it not been for the withdrawals that prompted Kane to question his international team-mates’ commitment.

Kane unhappy

The former Tottenham striker told ITV: “I think England comes before anything. England comes before club, it is the most important thing as a professional footballer.

“It’s a shame this week, obviously. 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. England comes before anything and any club situation.”




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