GAMBLE ON KANE WILL ANGER JOSE

GARETH SOUTHGATE is ready to risk the wrath of Jose Mourinho by playing Harry Kane against Denmark on Wednesday despite an injury scare for the England captain. Tottenham striker Kane was a shock absentee from yesterday’s starting XI. Southgate insisted pre-match that he was suffering from muscular fatigue and had not sustained an injury. News of Kane’s problem sparked concern at Spurs, who are understandably fearful of their star striker aggravating the problem. Mourinho warned Southgate about potential fatigue factors with regards to Kane given Spurs’ demanding start to the season. But even though Sportsmail sources claim Tottenham medics would prefer their talisman to return to the club, Southgate gave Kane almost half an hour against Belgium and intends to give his skipper more game-time in midweek. Southgate said: ‘We are hoping that Harry, with that progression tonight, will get more confidence. Certainly he should be able to have more minutes (against Denmark).’ England and Tottenham medics are expected to hold further talks today but Southgate, it appears, has no intention of releasing the striker. Jordan Henderson, however, who captained the team in Kane’s absence, could miss the game against Denmark after completing his first 65 minutes of football since September 20. ‘Jordan is a little bit more complicated. We are going to have to assess him very carefully,’ said Southgate, who confirmed Ben Chilwell would return to training after missing the wins over Wales and Belgium due to a combination of breaching Covid rules and a minor illness. On the encouraging win, Southgate added: ‘We’re so young, it’s an experience for them to play against such a top team and should give them a sense of what might be possible over the next few years. Going in at 1-1 (at half-time), the game felt a bit calmer than going in a goal behind. I thought the way the players used the ball in the second half was tremendous and we defended as a team.’ Belgium manager Roberto Martinez dispelled concerns that Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne was hurt, saying he went off late ‘as a precaution’.