Thomas Tuchel has explained why Harry Kane was left out of England’s final friendly of the season against Japan on Tuesday.
The former Tottenham striker looked set to start up front at Wembley Stadium in the Three Lions’ second match of the week, having been held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay last time out.
Kane was part of an 11-strong group of players given additional rest ahead of the Uruguay encounter, and as such, he took his seat in the stands last Friday.
Now, however, he has withdrawn from tonight’s match, with Tuchel citing a “minor injury”.
"It’s a minor injury from basically out of nothing,” the England boss explained pre-match.
“He had to step out of training yesterday after 15 minutes. No chance to be involved, not even today. He is being further assessed now."
Bayern Munich supporters will be sweating over the fitness of their star striker, who has hit 42 goals in all competitions already this term.
Tuchel emphasised the injury was “serious enough not to play [tonight] and we await further assessment.”
Kane’s absence meant that Phil Foden was fielded as a false nine against Japan, with Anthony Gordon, who can also play through the middle, starting on the left flank.
Kane, Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the three strikers selected by Tuchel in his 35-man extended squad for this international window.
Calvert-Lewin, who came on as a substitute against Uruguay, was sent back to his club, Leeds United, along with a number of other players as Tuchel sought to trim his numbers with the reintegration of several first-choice stars.
Solanke, the Spurs forward signed to replace Kane by Ange Postecoglou, started on Friday but had to settle for a place on the bench against Japan.
