Could being without Tottenham trio Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Harry Winks actually be a good thing for England?
Gareth Southgate, manager of England, attends a press conference at St George’s Park.
England manager Gareth Southgate has something of a selection headache for upcoming friendlies with Germany and Brazil with six players having already pulled out of the squad with injuries.
Already without Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck due to fitness issues, Tottenham Hotspur trio Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Harry Winks, Manchester City duo Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling and Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson have also withdrawn.
Harry Winks in action during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
It means a large amount of the players Southgate is likely to be considering for his starting XI at the 2018 World Cup in Russia will not be available for him to see in two of the Three Lions’ final four fixtures before the tournament starts.
Yet for the three Spurs contingent in particular, two of whom in Alli and Kane are expected to start next summer, is this fortnight away from competitive football actually such a bad thing?
OK, so Southgate can’t see his best team in action in a 3-4-3 formation he is trialling, but when there were accusations of Kane being burnt out during a lacklustre Euro 2016 for the nation, perhaps time off is a positive.
Harry Kane celebrates with Dele Alli after scoring the fourth goal and his second of the game during the Premier League match against Liverpool.
Not being able to prove himself on the international stage could arguably be an issue for a developing Winks, but would anything the other two did against the Germans and the Brazilians change the boss’ opinion of them?
With another gruelling season ahead for Tottenham as they challenge for the Premier League title and in the Champions League, England should do all they can to ensure Alli and Kane are as sharp as possible in Russia – even if that means resting them.
Winning these next two matches would be nice, but it worth remembering that they are just friendlies and the bigger picture is far more important.
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