Antonio Conte has claimed that Harry Kane is 'really, really tired' less than a week before England begin preparations for the World Cup. The Three Lions are set to fly out to Qatar in the next few days and Gareth Southgate has been handed a fresh dilemma.
Kane has featured 21 times for Tottenham across all competitions this season, directly contributing towards 15 goals. While his impressive displays have guided Spurs into the top-four of the Premier League, the myriad of first-team minutes have begun to take its toll on the 29-year-old striker according to the Italian boss.
He's started every game for the north Londoners this term, including Tottenham's defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, November 9. Kane was replaced by Bryan Gil with half an hour to play after failing to find the breakthrough.
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Speaking to the press following Spurs' early exit from the league cup, Conte insisted that he has been left with no choice but to start Kane as much as he had due to a wave of injuries at N17. He said: "With Harry, until this morning we waited to see if he could start or not.
"But in this situation he was the only striker for us. For this reason I can only say thanks for the availability they show me.
"It was a problem of tiredness," the Italian added. "Really, really tired and yesterday we had a soft training session and at one point he stopped himself to recover energy.
"But he’s okay, it’s only fatigue but it’s normal because Harry played every game. When you have a player like him it’s difficult to decide you don’t play with him.
"Other players maybe they could tell me, ‘I’m tired and don’t want to play and help the team’. I have a group of players who are men and good players because of this.
"Another could be selfish and think for himself because in one week they have to play the World Cup. Instead, Harry Kane showed to be a really good man.
"Today it was really difficult if Kane told me, ‘maybe it’s better I don’t start today because I risk a lot to have an injury’. But I repeat, it’s normal, what’s happening in this period."
The Three Lions squad, which will represent England at the World Cup later this month, will be announced at 2pm on Thursday afternoon, November 10. A place in the 26-man squad will all but certainly be granted to Kane despite his fitness concerns.
England don't play their first World Cup game until November 21 against Iran, handing the striker sufficient time to rest and ensure he is fit to captain his country.
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