‘Unless they’re being clever’: Gary Neville ‘worried’ about Tottenham player at World Cup

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Gary Neville has stated that he is ‘worried’ about what he is hearing regarding the ankle injury to Tottenham Hotspur striker, Harry Kane, on England duty at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The TV pundit questioned whether England and Gareth Southgate are being ‘clever’ with the Tottenham hitman and playing mind games regarding his possible ankle injury, as he told ITV Sport.

On Monday, as England walloped Iran 6-2 for their opening Group B game in Qatar, Kane did roll his ankle during the match and he was seen clutching his foot in the aftermath.

Despite all of that, he carried on and continued to play for another 20-odd minutes, despite his team being in cruise control and Southgate having the possibility to substitute him.

There is an air of positivity that there is nothing to worry about ahead of England’s World Cup clash against the USA, but Neville isn’t so sure.

“I am a little bit worried because they are being a bit coy about it as well, aren’t they, England,” said Neville. “Unless they are being a little bit clever which I don’t think Gareth Southgate has got it in him. I don’t think he is one of those managers that tries to play mind games.

“So, I am a little bit worried about it in the sense that Harry Kane, there is no replacement for him directly. No one has the quality he has got. No one can link the play as he does. We saw the assists he got the other day. That cross, no one is capable. That worries me (that Kane’s had a scan).”

ENGLAND V USA

England may well have been in cruise control against Iran, including slapping them up inside the first half an hour, but things will be a lot tougher against the USA.

USA didn’t win their opening Group B game, instead, they watched Wales’ star man, Gareth Bale, score a late penalty to secure a point for his side upon their return to the World Cup stage since 1958.

Gregg Berhalter’s side will be well aware that defeat here against those across the pond could prove to be costly for them, especially given that if Wales beat Iran, then it puts Rob Page’s men in control heading into the final set of Group B fixtures.