Kane backs England absentees to put health first

Harry Kane has said he trusts the five players who pulled out of Thomas Tuchel's first England squad since the World Cup, and that each should put his own health first.

Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento are all missing. Rice, the Arsenal midfielder, has been given extra rest and will sit out both September Nations League fixtures, at home to Spain on 26 September and away to the Czech Republic on 29 September. Palmer has reportedly withdrawn for load management, and the Daily Mail notes that he and Rice each played 90 minutes for their clubs at the weekend.

Kane, who plays for Bayern Munich, pointed to the length of the summer. Speaking about Rice, as quoted by Arsenal News Channel, he said: "Everyone has their own situation. It has been a very busy summer, especially for those who play in the Premier League. I'm playing in Germany now, where there is a chance to rest and recover during the winter break, so I'm in a different position. Everyone must look after themselves and put their health first. I trust all the lads. Rice and I have spoken, and I know he is giving everything for the good of his club and his country. I know how hard it is for him."

The tone differs from November 2024, when nine players called off from Lee Carsley's interim squad. Kane said then: "England comes before anything. England comes before club."

He did not retract that on this occasion, but stressed what the absences cost. "We spend so much time at club level together and building on the pitch, off the pitch," Kane said, according to the Daily Mail. "You don't get that luxury with international football." He listed the time left before the 2028 European Championships: two weeks now, a week in November, about a week in March, then a Nations League semi-final and final in June.

"So, although it seems far away, I think actually it's not a long time at all," he said.

Rice has 22 for Arsenal, and Livramento one for Newcastle.