Thu Oct 10 19:48:10 UTC 2024: ## England Captain Harry Kane Out of Starting Lineup for Greece Clash
England manager Lee Carsley has confirmed that captain Harry Kane will not start Thursday’s Nations League match against Greece, as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
Kane sustained the injury during Bayern Munich’s 3-3 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. While the 31-year-old, England’s all-time record goalscorer, has been training with the squad since Monday, he has been limited to individual sessions.
Carsley assured that Kane’s fitness is not a concern for the Group B2 clash at Wembley. “Harry has a knock, a little tweak. We won’t be taking any chances,” Carsley told reporters on Wednesday.
While Kane is expected to be available for Sunday’s game against Finland, he won’t be rushed back into action. In his absence, Manchester City defender John Stones will captain England for the first time.
“It’s a fantastic achievement for John, one he richly deserves. The amount of caps he has got, the experience he has got, the professionalism he shows within the squad, he’s a role model for the younger players,” Carsley said.
Stones expressed his excitement about leading his country at Wembley, calling it a “dream come true.”
Meanwhile, Manchester City winger Jack Grealish could also be sidelined against Greece after picking up a knock in training.
In other news, Chelsea striker Cole Palmer has been named England’s Men’s Player of the Month for August. The 22-year-old is expected to make his England debut against Greece, having already scored six goals for Chelsea this season.
Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic believes England, under Carsley, is a more dynamic side than the one that reached the Euro 2024 finals under Gareth Southgate. He praised Southgate’s contribution to English football but believes Carsley’s style is slightly more possession-based and allows for more creativity among players.
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