Tottenham striker Harry Kane could be at risk of burnout this season due to the hectic fixture schedule, according to Alan Shearer.
Kane inspired Tottenham to a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday evening, scoring twice and setting up both of Gareth Bale’s goals in the Premier League game.
The 27-year-old has been in excellent form recently, helping Spurs record three straight league wins to move them up to sixth place, two points adrift of Chelsea in fourth.
He now has 16 goals and 13 assists in 25 Premier League appearances and will be key to Tottenham’s chances of securing Champions League football next season.
While he is currently focused on Spurs’ domestic campaign and Europa League last-16 tie against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday, Kane also has this summer’s European Championships on his mind.
When fit, Kane is an ever-present for Spurs and Premier League all-time record goalscorer Shearer believes the upcoming international break should be cancelled in order to give players a break.
“Look at the schedule of someone like Harry Kane,” Shearer wrote for The Athletic.
“He’s already played 42 games this season (despite being injured for a few weeks) and could have 22 more (11 Spurs league games, the Carabao Cup final, seven potential Europa League matches and three England games) before the summer.
“How can anyone expect him to perform at his best level come June?”
Shearer argues that the quality of Premier League matches has “dropped off dramatically, a consequence of so many matches in so little time and with no time to stop”.
He cites the fact that March has seen an average of 1.58 goals per game so far - a massive decline from previous months, with goals gradually declining since September’s average of 3.68.
South America has cancelled its World Cup qualifiers, which were scheduled to take place later this month due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
However, Europe’s games are still set to go ahead, with England playing San Marino, Albania and Poland at the end of this month.
“International football is hugely important to me and a lot of people, I know that, but if we don’t give players a rest soon, it will ruin the end of the season and the Euros this summer,” Shearer writes.
“We want a high standard of football but without a break, that is impossible.
Give all players a proper week off. That means no training either. A chance to recharge their batteries and have a physical and mental rest.
“It’s not going to solve everything but you would see better football again afterwards.”
