ENGLAND FARCE
Southgate in disarray with SIX stars out
GARETH SOUTHGATE’S plans for the showcase Wembley doubleheader against Germany and Brazil have been thrown into total disarray by a rash of withdrawals.
After losing Tottenham trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks, the England manager was faced with further setbacks when Manchester City duo Raheem Sterling ( thigh) and Fabian Delph ( calf) and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson (thigh) also pulled out with injury yesterday.
Southgate has been forced to call up Burnley’s 28-year-old midfielder Jack Cork as a consequence, but the injuries leave him with a weakened side for matches against two of the best teams in the world — Germany on Friday and Brazil four days later.
The complications do not end there, however. The fact that Spurs, City and Liverpool have had their players withdrawn has not escaped the attention of Jose Mourinho, who
was already concerned by the ‘load’ being put on his Manchester United stars. Old Trafford insiders say his anxiety extends beyond England, with Mourinho understood to have been incensed with Belgium for playing Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini as much as they have this season and France for playing Paul Pogba when he felt the midfielder should have been rested. With so many key England attackers sidelined Mourinho is worried that Southgate will have little choice but to start Marcus Rashford in both games. Southgate must be frustrated by losing so many key players, and not just because the potency of his team will be affected by the absence of Kane, Alli and Sterling in attack. But of further concern will be the lack of leaders on the field when Kane and Henderson are his first two choices for captain. Gary Cahill, another option for the armband, is also doubtful. The Chelsea defender reported for training yesterday but he needs to be assessed by the FA medical team. Goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has captained the team under Southgate, looks to be in pole position to wear the armband if selected against Germany. Cork’s addition will come as a further blow to Arsenal midfielder’s Jack Wilshere’s attempt to revive his England career. In a further twist last night, Burnley were upset that Ladbrokes, their official betting partner, posted a sarcastic tweet about Cork’s call-up with a picture of a bemused Wilshere, saying: ‘OK mate.’