Wilshere and Kane to return
Southgate will call on duo for Scotland clash
GARETH Southgate is set to recall Jack Wilshere and include Harry Kane in his squad for next week’s World Cup qualifying match against Scotland.
Kane has been out for seven weeks with an ankle injury but will be in Tottenham’s squad for tomorrow’s Premier League clash at Arsenal.
Provided Kane plays some part and comes through unscathed, Southgate — England interim manager — is almost certain to include him in the 23-man party to face Scotland on Friday and the friendly against Spain four days later .
After increasingly impressive performances on loan at Bournemouth, Wilshere could also force his way back into the international fold.
Sammy Lee, Southgate’s No 2, will watch Bournemouth’s game at home to Sunderland this afternoon to assess the midfielder, overlooked by England since Euro 2016.
Southgate, who will announce his squad tomorrow evening, is a huge admirer of Kane and is desperate to include him in his plans for two games crucial to determining whether he is given the England job on a permanent basis.
Kane returned to full training on Monday and is said to have impressed Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has not ruled out throwing his best striker straight into the starting XI tomorrow lunchtime.
He will make his decision after today’s training session.
After watching Bournemouth today, Lee will be at the Emirates tomorrow to assess Kane, Eric Dier and Dele Alli of Spurs, along with Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Southgate (below) will watch Crystal Palace at Burnley today to keep an eye on England hopefuls Michael Keane, Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha and Scott Dann.
Doubts linger over Wayne Rooney in the England set- up. Southgate axed his captain for the qualifier against Slovenia last month, playing Alli in the No 10 role.
Southgate is minded to stick with Alli, which means Rooney may have to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench though he could return to the starting XI against Spain. Southgate, 46, refused to be drawn on whether victories against Scotland and Spain will earn him the England job on a permanent basis. ‘The agreement was to take these four games, to keep some continuity, and then everybody has a chance to reflect and review how’s it gone,’ said Southgate. ‘The decision needs a lot of thought. There is a big difference between being asked to take the team over the summer, or to take the team for three years or for a year and a half. I don’t think it is as easy as saying, “Yes I would like the job”, and I would also like to see how it is affecting my family — and my health, probably.’