LAY OFF JOE
Kane tells boo-boys not to target Gomez… or Sterling
HARRY KANE has urged the England boo-boys travelling to Kosovo to lay off Joe Gomez and the returning Raheem Sterling.
The squad were stunned at the treatment the crowd gave Gomez at Wembley on Thursday when he came on as a 70th-minute substitute against Montenegro.
And with the away fans always most vocal, it is feared both players could be targeted again in Pristina tomorrow. Manager Gareth Southgate, coach Chris Powell and skipper Kane took it upon themselves to check on the
emotional well-being of Gomez
after the bust-up between the pair.
Kane says the booing must stop when England travel to Kosovo, looking for a victory in their final match tomorrow to seal their European Championship qualification on a high.
“I find it really confusing why he was booed,” Kane said. “I cannot quite figure it out. But I don’t think any player should be booed.
“No player should be booed, so hopefully it won’t happen to Joe or Raheem if they play on Sunday.
“I know how important club football is with City and Liverpool and all clubs.
“But at international level, we are all England fans, and the bottom line is that Joe is a great guy – one of the nicest guys I have ever met. He is a top professional and for him it is about moving on, training and looking at the next game.”
Kane said that rather than put Liverpool defender Gomez through more formal counselling sessions with the professionals available at the England training camp, it was down to the rest of the squad to check up on a 22-year-old still making his first steps in international football.
“Look, it’s for us to pick him up,” Kane said. “He’s a young player who’s had a difficult week and my priority is to support him.
“But I know all of the lads are going to get around him. I just know that’s happening now and will happen over the next few days.”