KANE ON TRACK
Huge boost for England as striker shares gym video
HARRY KANE is on target to be fit for the climax of Tottenham’s season and england’s euro 2020 campaign.
england manager Gareth Southgate, who is ready to partner Joe Gomez with Harry Maguire in central defence at the euros, has been boosted by news of Kane stepping up his recovery from hamstring surgery.
The striker is due to return to action in April, allaying fears of a longer lay- off that could have seen england’s captain miss the euros.
Kane posted a video of himself on social media yesterday completing hamstring strengthening exercises, with sources saying he is on course to win his battle to be fit.
It is hoped Kane will be ready to run outdoors by mid-March and he could go abroad as part of his rehabilitation. When recovering from an ankle injury towards the end of last season, Kane went to Barbados for a warm-weather training programme.
Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Gomez is poised to overtake John Stones in the battle to start in the heart of england’s defence at euro 2020. Southgate’s preferred central defensive partnership has long been Harry Maguire and Stones. But Gomez is emerging as a genuine contender to play alongside Manchester United skipper Maguire this summer.
Gomez has been outstanding since regaining his place for Liverpool, helping Jurgen Klopp’s side amass a staggering 19-point lead in the Premier League.
In fact, Liverpool have conceded just twice in their last 13 games when Gomez has been on the pitch. His form has forced Southgate into rethinking his preferred central defensive partnership and he is ready to give Gomez his opportunity.
Stones has struggled at Manchester City this season, partly due to injury in the early part of the campaign, and it will not help his cause that he is not a regular in Pep Guardiola’s side.
Aston Villa star Jack Grealish and Danny Ings of Southampton look certain to be named in the squad to face Italy and Denmark at the end of March.
But there are concerns within the england camp over everton defender Michael Keane, whose poor form has seen him lose his place under new manager Carlo Ancelotti.