Evening Standard
·12 October 2024
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·12 October 2024
Kane missed the defeat to Greece but could return for Three Lions in Helsinki
Harry Kane will be assessed after training on Friday and could feature when England face Finland in Helsinki on Sunday.
The Bayern Munich striker suffered a blow to the leg at the weekend and was left out of Thursday night’s 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley after missing training at St George’s Park this week to instead undergo an individualised indoor fitness programme.
But Kane’s injury is only believed to be minor, and he will train on Friday, after which his situation will be assessed.
Speaking after the defeat to Greece, interim manager Lee Carsley said: “We’re going to assess him tomorrow [Friday]. He’s training tomorrow with us.”
Bukayo Saka limped off with a suspected injury 51 minutes into Thursday’s match and has dropped out of the squad alongside Curtis Jones.
Bukayo Saka was forced off after picking up a leg issue against Greece
The FA via Getty Images
Carsley said: “He is being assessed. Obviously in the in the build up to the first goal, I think you could see he felt something in his leg.”
Carsley selected an experimental 4-2-2-2 formation for the defeat to Greece, in which he did not start a conventional centre-forward, but he revealed to reporters on Thursday that he “probably won’t” pick the same formation against Finland, with a return to England’s usual 4-2-3-1 system the most likely eventuality.
There could be game time for Marc Guehi, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Angel Gomes, all of whom played no part as Greece beat the Three Lions 2-1 on Thursday.
Uncapped full-back Tino Livramento and midfielder Curtis Jones will hope to make their first appearances for England, with both players part of the senior camp for the second time.
Predicted England XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Guehi, Stones, Lewis; Gomes, Rice; Palmer, Grealish, Gordon; Kane
Out: Saka, Jones
Doubts: Kane
Date and time: 5pm BST, Sunday, October 13, 2024
Venue: Helsinki Olympic Stadium
TV channel: ITV1
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