Harry Kane is fit for England’s World Cup showdown with the United States - and is in the best form of his life.
Gareth Southgate says Kane goes into the tournament full of confidence with his Tottenham boss Antonio Conte insisting he has never played better and is in great shape both mentally and physically.
England captain Kane, just two goals short of Wayne Rooney ’s record, has scored 12 goals in 15 games this season and is at the peak of his powers because it is midway through the season.
Kane did give England an injury scare this week when he was sent for a scan on a foot injury - rather than his troublesome ankle - but will definitely start against the US.
When asked whether he agreed with Conte’s assessment of Kane’s form, Three Lions boss Southgate said: “Yeah, he’s in a good space. Definitely.
“We managed him a little bit last week through training because of the load he had had so I think we’re always conscious of that and we do that with lots of players really.
“Some need a little bit more training, some might do half a session, it depends on what their individual load has been. Some of our guys haven’t played as much football and need pushing a bit more at certain times so we’re always individually preparing that but he’s in a good space definitely.”
Kane trained with his team mates as normal at England’s base in Al Wakrah ahead of the United States clash. Harry Maguire has also been passed fit. Maguire came off in the Iran game and the medics looked to be carrying out concussion checks but Southgate insisted the Manchester United defender had actually felt ill and dehydrated in the second half.
Southgate is expected to go with an unchanged line-up after the 6-2 win over Iran but says no-one should expect another goal rush in the second Group match.
Southgate added: “The risk for us is that we think, because we played well the other day, we can just go through to the next game. We’ve got to find that reset button to have the same psychology, the same determination.
“I do see that in the players. All our players are playing at big clubs and have to perform every week. They know when they come with England, they’ve got to do the same.”
England boss Southgate laughed when asked by an American journalist about a headline of “EASY” being plastered on a front page before the World Cup 12 years ago
Southgate said: “Have we ever beaten the States in a major tournament? No, I didn’t think so. So we have to try to make history. We’re good at talking highly of ourselves as a nation, on the basis of very little evidence. We’re good at that.
“What we’ve got to do is perform on the field. We know that we will play a highly-motivated team, perhaps even more motivated because of some of those type of headlines.
“But we have got huge respect for our opponent. We know a lot of the players from our league and the quality they have, the athleticism they have. We have to be at our best. I don’t think we will be underestimating the USA team at all.”
