Will hero Harry have to put his golden feet up?
Southgate set to rest Kane and put brakes on pursuit of Golden Boot
GARETH SOUTHGATE has warned Harry Kane he may rest him against Belgium even though he is in hot pursuit of the Golden Boot. The England captain’s Panama hat-trick on Sunday put him at the top of the tournament goalscoring charts on five but with qualification for the knockout stages already secured, Southgate may make a number of changes to his team in Kaliningrad on Thursday evening. Only Gary Lineker in 1986 with six has scored more goals for England in a single tournament with Kane now matching Geoff Hurst’s tally in 1966. However, Southgate will not allow sentiment to affect his team selection for the top-of-Group G decider. “He’s sitting really proudly at the top,” said Southgate. “He’s gone ahead of some major, major names in English football history in terms of World Cup goals. “That should make him incredibly proud but he also knows the team is the most important thing and we have to make decisions that are right for the team. Obviously it will be very important for Harry so I always have to balance what’s right for the squad as well.” Kane was replaced 61 minutes into the game against Panama as Southgate, left, began his policy of trying to give game time to those that have been on the bench so far in the tournament. “We have to consider everything,” said Southgate. “Against Panama, I felt it was important for Jamie Vardy, Fabian Delph and Danny Rose, who have trained
so well and been such an important part of the group as more senior players. There were four or five others I’d have liked to get on the pitch for that same reason. Balancing that with a couple of the younger ones was a difficult decision.
“I’ve got to think through all of those things, competition for places, players who need match minutes and keeping the unity of the squad.”
Vardy, below, replaced Kane against Panama and the England captain accepts that the needs of the team must come first – although that does not necessarily mean he likes the idea of warming the bench.
He said: “Everybody wants to play – it’s the most important thing. The gaffer will make the decision. If I am playing, I shall be ready to go. If not, I will be rooting the lads on from the bench. That’s down to him. All we can do is get down and back the boys who are in. We will see what happens – I am feeling sharp and training well so we shall see.”