Harry Kane Ruled Out of England’s Clash with Greece Due to Injury

England captain Harry Kane will not start in the upcoming fixture against Greece, as he missed the final training session and continues to recover from a leg injury sustained over the weekend while playing for Bayern Munich. Despite joining the England squad for preparations at St George’s Park, Kane trained separately from his teammates, focusing on individual recovery work.

England manager Lee Carsley has called up Curtis Jones from Liverpool for his first senior appearance with the national team. Newcastle‘s Tino Livramento has also been included in the senior squad, having initially been named in the Under-21 team. Jones was previously part of the Under-21 squad that claimed victory in the 2023 European Championship under Carsley’s coaching.

Another key player, who has not been named, also sat out a recent training session as a precautionary measure. England is scheduled to face Finland in Helsinki shortly after their match with Greece.

Kane has not missed a competitive match for England in nearly a year, having last been absent in a game against North Macedonia after already securing qualification for Euro 2024. Following a challenging end to the previous season, Kane had a slower start but has been a fixture in the England line-up during tournaments, despite questions regarding his form.

This season, Kane has scored ten goals in nine games for Bayern Munich, although his performance in a Champions League defeat to Aston Villa attracted criticism. Recently, he netted both goals in England’s 2-0 victory over Finland, marking his 100th cap.

With Kane sidelined, Ollie Watkins emerges as the frontrunner to replace him. Watkins was instrumental in England’s progress to the Euro semi-final. Dominic Solanke, in recognition of his strong performance at Tottenham, has been recalled to the national team for the first time in nearly seven years.

“I’ve come a long way since the last time I was here. I’ve played a lot of football, gained a lot of experience, and I feel confident right now. If I’m called upon, I’ll definitely be ready,” Solanke said.

In Kane’s absence, John Stones from Manchester City will wear the captain’s armband. Stones expressed gratitude and excitement upon receiving this honour from Carsley, describing it as a “dream come true.” Since his debut for England under Roy Hodgson in 2014, Stones has earned 81 caps but never started as captain. “To walk out as England captain is a special moment,” Stones added.