Captain Kane’s long road to recovery is not good for Spurs ...but it’s great for England

LET’S do the glass half-full bit.

Harry Kane’s surgery and lengthy lay-off can only be a good thing for England’s chances at Euro 2020.

In fact, maybe if he could delay his comeback until the very end of April, or even the beginning of May, then even better.

Not for Tottenham supporters, obviously.

But a fresh Kane would be a fillip for Gareth Southgate, going into this summer’s tournament.

Had Kane been at his freshest at World Cup 2018, England might have won the thing.

Don’t be so ridiculous, some might say, Kane won the Golden Boot. Indeed, he did.

But let’s be honest, none of the six goals that earned him the award would make a highlights reel.

The skilful close-range header that earned England their opening win against Tunisia was probably the pick of the bunch.

Other than that there was a tap-in after John Stones’ effort had been well saved, three penalties and an unwitting diversion of a Ruben Loftus-Cheek shot.

In the quarter-final win over Sweden, the BBC correspondent gave him a six and the public – via the Beeb’s website – marked him as England’s fourth-worst performer in the 2-0 victory.

After the semi-final defeat to Croatia, the same BBC vote had Kane as THE worst England player.

That might have been generated by his miss when England were a goal up – and when he really should have squared it to Raheem Sterling – but he was lethargic and off the pace for that entire match.

Southgate should have hooked @mahrez22 “Congratulations to Sadio for his trophy. Well deserved and sorry I couldn’t come but I had to start scoring for the 2020 trophy.

See you next year inch’Allah #CAFAAwards2019.” Riyad Mahrez hails Sadio Mane’s feat in being named African Player of the Year for 2019… and kicks off his 2020 campaign with a strike against Manchester United. him during the second half but, presumably, left him on the field just in case it went to penalties.

He played the 90 minutes of the third-place play-off against Belgium, but was pretty much an onlooker.

Over the last four matches of the tournament, his one shot on target was the successful penalty against Colombia.

He was not alone, but Kane looked physically and mentally shot by the end of World Cup 2018.

Ahead of his goalless Euro 2016, Kane had made 50 appearances for Spurs in the 2015/16 season and had led the England attack in the Under-21 European Championship the previous summer.

No wonder he might not have been in tip-top shape. This time, he should be in pristine condition, full of energy, mentally and physically primed.

And, in the March camp and friendlies he will miss, Southgate will be able to work on a Kane-less system.

Marcus Rashford or Tammy Abraham could take the central role – or Southgate could go full Pep and play one or two false nines.

There are options.

Kane has been brilliant for England, a true talisman.

But, as unfortunate and as painful as this setback is to his club and the player himself, it is no cause for alarm for Southgate.

In fact, his only concern should be if Kane, ferociously determined and single-minded character that he is, tries to force his way back into action too soon.

Sorry, Spurs, end of April will do. A couple of sighters for Tottenham, then all guns blazing for Euro 2020.

Now THAT is glass half-full stuff.