Saint Danny in frame for Kane’s Lions role
Erik helps keep Jose’s record intact
GARETH SOUTHGATE is planning to hand Danny Ings a Euro 2020 audition.
The England boss is keeping close tabs on the in-form Southampton striker amid huge concerns over Harry Kane’s fitness ahead of this summer’s Championships.
Southgate has been an admirer of 27-year-old Ings since his days with the England Under-21s and has been getting regular reports
European
TWO Tottenham nearly men came in from the cold to keep Jose Mourinho’s proud FA Cup record intact.
Giovani Lo Celso set the ball rolling in just the second minute, scoring in only his third start for Mourinho.
And Erik Lamela marked his first start under the Spurs boss with the second as Mourinho maintained his record of never losing a third-round FA Cup tie.
But Tottenham had to survive a late scare when supersub George Saville pulled one back for Boro.
And it was a far from comfortable end to the game for Spurs, who have not lost at home to lower league opponents in this competition since 1975.
Boro, 16th in the Championship, had earned a 1-1 draw at the Riverside but they made a nightmare start.
Goalkeeper Tomas Mejias, one of five changes, tried to be a bit too clever with a quick ball out from the back and presented it straight to Lo Celso.
The on-loan Real Betis star made no mistake to score his second goal for the club, whipping it past a red-faced Mejias who once played a league game for Mourinho at Real Madrid. But Spurs were given a wake-up call when Davinson Sanchez played a poor pass and it was recycled to Lukas Nmecha. The striker, making his first start after a loan move from Manchester City, left youngster Japhet Tanganga on his backside with a nifty turn before forcing a fine diving save from Paulo Gazzaniga. But Lamela settled any nerves when he capped off a storming run with a composed finish after robbing Jonny Howson in only the 15th minute. Boro played some lovely stuff and had their chances but at times it felt like a shooting gallery for Spurs with Lucas Moura, Tanganga and Christian Eriksen also going close. Tottenham old boy Jonathan Woodgate had some talking to do at half-time because it was turning into an unhappy homecoming for the Boro boss and his assistant Robbie Keane. But Spurs were right back on the attack after the break with only a linesman’s flag sparing Ryan Sessegnon’s blushes (right) when he sliced over from less than two yards out.
Lewis Wing then forced Gazzaniga into another one-handed save from a free-kick as the visitors started to grow in confidence and exert some pressure.
But Tottenham got an injection of fresh legs when Heung-min Son came on and continued to look comfortable until Saville’s late reply.
Only a fine reaction save from Mejias denied Sanchez a third for Spurs from point-blank range but Boro set up a grandstand finale with seven minutes remaining.
Sanchez failed to deal with a long ball under pressure from Rudy Gestede and Gazzaniga failed to stop fellow sub Saville’s resulting strike despite getting a hand to it. But Spurs held on.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN is being offered a bumper contract by Inter Milan which would more than double his salary – but Paris St-Germain are ready to rival the Italians for the Spurs midfielder.
The Dane is on £80,000 a week at White Hart Lane but Inter have offered double that plus big bonuses for winning trophies, qualifying for the Champions League and appearances.
They are offering a four-and-ahalf-year deal and have made Spurs an offer of around £20m.
But PSG have been monitoring the talks and are set to make their move, with Eriksen having just six months left on his deal at Spurs. on the ex-Liverpool and Burnley striker.
Ings, who won a single senior cap under previous boss Roy Hodgson, has scored 10 goals in his last 11 games for the Saints and is in the frame for England’s March friendlies against Italy and Denmark.
Southgate will not turn to Leicester’s Jamie Vardy, 33, who quit international football to concentrate on his club career.
Another option, Callum Wilson, is badly out of form at Bournemouth, which has opened the door for Ings.
Kane has undergone surgery on a torn hamstring and Tottenham last week issued a club statement indicating he would be out of action until April.
However, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has suggested he may not even be back until next season, which would be a devastating blow for England.
But it is understood Kane is confident of being able to start light training by March and believes he will be fit and match sharp by the time of the Euros. JORDAN Henderson has been named England’s Player of the Year for 2019, beating Raheem Sterling into second place in the BT-sponsored poll. Lucy Bronze took the women’s award.