Page 42. South East Times. Issue 65
Harry Kane:
Roy Hodgson fears
striker will miss the
Under-21 Euros
England manager Roy Hodgson fears
Tottenham’s commercial interests
could stop Harry Kane featuring
at this year’s European Under-21
Championship.
The 26-goal striker may have to go to
Australia with his club, jeopardising his
England commitments this summer.
“Personally speaking, playing for
England at Under-21 level at a
tournament is more important than a
friendly in Australia,” Hodgson said.
“This is a marketing game as far as I
can understand.”
Kane has become one of Tottenham’s
big stars and was named in Hodgson’s
England squad for games against
Lithuania and Italy. That is why Spurs
are keen for the 21-year-old to make
the 21,000-mile, 42-hour post-season
Elderly Care
journey to play Sydney FC in a friendly
on 30 May. Tottenham boss Mauricio
Pochettino says Kane would then need to
rest, which could mean he misses the U21
tournament, which starts in the Czech
Republic on 17 June.
Hodgson plans to speak to Pochettino but
added: “Don’t forget, these decisions are
sometimes commercial and taken out of a
coach’s hands.”
Pochettino says he has a good relationship
with Hodgson and only has Kane’s
interests at heart.
“Always we try to find what is best for the
player,” the Argentine said.
Gareth Southgate says Kane is willing to
play for the Under-21s.
“He wants to go and have a crack at being
European champions, so I don’t foresee
that that will change,” said the U21 boss.