Maddison has undoubtedly been one of the standout players across the Premier League so far this season, having taken his game to a new level since his switch to Spurs in the summer.

The 26-year-old is thriving as the most advanced of the three midfielders in Ange Postecoglou’s system, having scored twice and registered five assists so far this season (Transfermarkt).

(Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

Maddison is a great character in the dressing room

The attacking midfielder started for England in their 1-0 win over Australia on Friday, which was only his fifth cap for the Three Lions.

Given his current form, one would expect Maddison to make England’s starting eleven for their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy, and Southgate’s latest words certainly indicate that he is in line to do so.

When asked about the Tottenham man, the England boss said (via Tom Barclay): “He is in a really good vein of form…a really good character around the group. He connects people well.

“We have got the more steady, serious guys & we have a lot of guys who bring a lot of sunshine.”

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While Maddison’s quality is there for all to see, his influence off the pitch cannot be overstated. The 26-year-old is quite clearly popular in both the England and the Spurs dressing room and is someone who leads by example as well as vocally.

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It was certainly not surprising to see Maddison named in the starting eleven in the Euro Qualifiers at the Wrocław Stadium in Poland on Saturday, given the impressive start that the 26-year-old has made to the season.

Southgate decided to pack the midfield, with Jordon Henderson, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham playing behind Maddison while Harry Kane also dropped into the middle of the park frequently to pick up the ball.

VALLETTA, MALTA – JUNE 16: James Maddison of England in action during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group C match between Malta and England at Ta’ Qali Stadium on June 16, 2023 in Valletta, Malta. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

That meant that the Spurs midfielder did not really get too much space to operate in and did not see much of the ball, with the Ukrainians defending in a low block.

The former Leicester City man was replaced by Manchester City’s Phil Foden in 65 minutes as the Three Lions went in search of an elusive winner but the change did not have the desired effect.

O’Hara thinks Maddison should have been number 10

O’Hara was far from happy with the way Southgate used Maddison, with the pundit telling talkSPORT about the England boss: “He takes Maddison off, who’s been flying for Tottenham, plays him on the left wing, when, when he signed for Tottenham, he’s been playing as a number 10.

“He’s a number 10. I felt for him, because all I saw was Maddison coming inside, and Bellingham and Maddison making the same runs trying to get the ball.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Maddison certainly did not play on the left wing against Ukraine. He was given a free role and allowed to drift wide if there was space on the flank. However, the formation did not seem to work as the likes of Bellingham, Kane and Maddison were often taking up similar positions.

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While Maddison had been one of the most consistent attacking midfielders in the Premier League over the last few years in what was, at times, a struggling Leicester City side, the 26-year-old has seemingly taken his game up another notch following his switch to Tottenham.

The midfielder is now thriving as a result of being surrounded by better players and the early indications are that he suits Ange Postecoglou’s system down to a tee.

VALLETTA, MALTA – JUNE 16: James Maddison of England in action during the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group C match between Malta and England at Ta’ Qali Stadium on June 16, 2023 in Valletta, Malta. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Unsurprisingly, Maddison was one of the players nominated for August’s Player of the Month award and he got the nod to start for England in their 1-1 draw against Ukraine on Saturday.

The Tottenham man would be hoping that he has done enough to keep his place in the side for the Three Lions’ clash against Scotland this evening, with Southgate’s latest words certainly suggesting that he might have done so.

Southgate is a big fan of Spurs’ James Maddison

The England boss told Channel 4 Sport (as relayed by TBR Football) about Maddison: “He gives us a slightly different profile of player and that allows us to get an extra body into midfield.

“He has started the season exceptionally well and I have to say they’ve all trained well this week and he’s been outstanding. So, he made us look perhaps differently to where we might have been at the beginning of the week.”

Spurs Web Opinion

It was evident that Southgate tweaked his system just to accommodate Maddison into the eleven against Ukraine, with England operating with a three at the back in possession, with Walker tucking in as a right centre-back while shifting to back four while defending.

However, the system did not really work, which is why I would be surprised if he starts with the same team against Scotland. I expect Southgate to go with a 4-3-3 this evening, with Maddison starting alongside Bellingham and Rice in midfield.

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Spurs had been tracking Maddison for a very long time before finally making the transfer a reality this summer.

Having been unable to prevent Leicester City from being relegated to the Championship, the playmaker was able to jump ship and remain in the Premier League.

(Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)

There are high hopes around North London that Maddison can offer the kind of creativity that Spurs have been lacking since Christian Eriksen left the club.

During his time at Leicester, Maddison proved he is just as capable of finding the net himself as he is at providing assists for those around him.

Maddison would play in whatever position is needed

Luckily for Ange Postecoglou, his new signing is talented enough to play in a range of different roles and is more than willing to do whatever is necessary to help the team.

The pair were talking at a press conference today attended by Football.London and Maddison spoke on the reasons he joined Postecoglou’s regime.

He said: “I’m an ambitious guy. I’m hungry to do well. When you have a decision to make and choosing my next club, the chat with the manager was just brilliant.”

On the idea of finding his best position for Spurs, Maddison added: “I think Gareth [Southgate] has said I can play in that front line. I’ve showed over the last few years I can play anywhere.

“I played as a number eight the other day for the gaffer. I’ll play anywhere, even at right-back if he wants me to.”

Judging by Postecoglou’s shake of the head after that comment, we shouldn’t expect to see Maddison playing in defence any time soon.

Spurs Web Opinion

The beauty of James Maddison is that he could easily be one of the best in the league in any of those attacking positions, and the idea of him linking up with the talent we have up top is tantalising.

Hopefully we get to see him in a range of different positions over this pre-season tour.

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Reports from Germany continue to suggest that Bayern Munich are not prepared to give up their pursuit of Kane despite Tottenham’s reluctance to sell the striker.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JUNE 19: Harry Kane of England acknowledges the fans following the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying round group C match between England and North Macedonia at Old Trafford on June 19, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

On Thursday, we relayed a report from SportBild which claimed that the 29-year-old is desperate to move to the Allianz Arena following his conversations with Thomas Tuchel.

The report added that the centre-forward is even prepared to threaten to join Bayern on a free transfer next summer if Spurs do not allow him to make the move now.

However, Tottenham seemingly remain determined to hold on to their talisman, with The Evening Standard reporting on the same day that the club are prepared to have crunch talks with the striker over his future when he returns to pre-season training next week.

The publication suggested that Daniel Levy has not given up hope that Kane could commit to a new contract at Spurs, even though the player has no intention of signing a new deal at the moment.

Harry Kane’s future will not impact England

It remains to be seen what this summer holds for the Tottenham man, but Southgate has insisted that it will not affect England’s plans one way or the other.

When asked about the prospect of his captain moving to Germany full-time, the Three Lions boss told BBC’s Test Match Special (as relayed by The Mirror): “I think with the players we’ve had abroad, we had Jude Bellingham in Dortmund, and we had a very good relationship with Borussia Dortmund when Jude was there for example.

“We’re such a small world now that we can fly and see them, we can go to the training grounds, we knows the coaches abroad, our medical teams connect.

“These are top clubs and it’s easy to have as good a connection with Real Madrid where Bellingham is now compared to one of our big clubs really.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Seeing the likes of Bellingham and Rice make big moves and seeing some of his other England teammates such as Walker, Stones and Grealish winning the Premier League and Champions League titles, would surely be playing on Kane’s mind.

One can understand why the striker would be desperate to get his hands on silverware and why he might not have the patience for another rebuild at Spurs. However, Levy and co might believe that the 29-year-old could change his mind if Postecoglou’s appointment has the desired effect next season.

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Harry Kane, who is about to turn 30 this July, is seemingly at the peak of his powers, with the striker having found the back of the net 30 times in the Premier League this season, which is an astounding record, considering Tottenham finished in eighth place this season.

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

Some pundits like Craig Burley have suggested that it is high time the England captain pushes for a move away from his boyhood club, arguing that he needs to leave this summer to give himself a chance of winning trophies (ESPN FC).

However, Football.London reported on Monday that Tottenham have maintained the striker is not for sale and that the expectation at the club is that he will stay for at least one more season.

Southgate believes that Kane still has plenty of time left in the game, given that he does not rely on his pace.

When asked about the Tottenham man, the England manager told The Telegraph: “I’d be thinking of a Sheringham type that wasn’t relying on speed to score goals or to have an impact on the game.

“He looked after himself very well and he was going strong at that sort of age. There’s no reason Harry won’t be able to do the same.”

Spurs Web Opinion

The whole narrative in the media about Kane’s age is a little skewed as the striker is certainly not in the twilight of his career.

If anything, he has only entered his peak years now, which is why he appears more relaxed about his future and about winning trophies to seal his legacy.

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The Three Lions will next month take to the field for their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia, however, Dier will not be part of the squad.

Harry Kane retains his place as captain, while Southgate has also decided against recalling Fraser Forster who has featured for Tottenham in recent weeks in the absence of the injured Hugo Lloris.

Forster had been named in the previous squad for the fixtures against Italy and Ukraine in March, having benefited from the injury suffered by Newcastle United’s Nick Pope but did not take to the field in either match.

(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings comes back into the fold ahead of Dier, along with Brighton’s Lewis Dunk, who has only been capped once by his country, comes back into the international fold for the first time since 2018.

England’s June squad in full

Goalkeepers:

Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders:

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: 

Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Maddison (Leicester), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham)

Forwards: 

Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle)

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Of course, Skipp has always been a very talented player, but if you listen to what his coaches have said about him in the past, it is his attitude and professionalism that have endeared him to the right people.

The quote that particularly stood out to me was when Mourinho called him a future captain, and said how impressed he had been with the youngster back in 2020 (Express).

(Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

What has improved?

After his successful loan spell at Norwich, Skipp has struggled to really cement his place in the starting eleven.

He has been hampered by multiple injuries during this time but now, since Bentancur’s horrendously unlucky injury, he has been playing regularly and seriously impressing the coaches, especially during our 2-0 win over Chelsea when he scored and was awarded MOTM.

I do think that he has surprised a lot of fans during this time too. Many were worried about his lack of ability on the ball, saying that he couldn’t fill in for Bentancur.

But how wrong they were. I think Skipp has developed his game significantly in the last year or so, especially with the ball at his feet and on the half-turn.

I always knew that he had tremendous ball recovery skills and excelled in off-the-ball work, but over the past few months his range of passing and awareness on the turn have been outstanding.

His pass for Richarlison’s disallowed goal against Forest last weekend was a perfect example of this, and he has been hitting such long diagonal passes with ease.

Another area he has developed has been his upper body strength, you can clearly see he has been putting in a shift in the gym and he looks more than up for the physical battle of the Premier League.

What still needs to improve? 

However, he is still far from the finished article and one area I believe he needs to improve on is his communication on the pitch.

He has always been a quiet character off the pitch and you can see how that translates to his demeanour on the pitch.

It is not a major issue at the moment as he is a young and developing footballer, playing next to a leader in Hojbjerg, but as he gets older and more experienced he will start to carry more of this responsibility as a more senior player and will need to adapt accordingly.

I believe he can do this and this will happen naturally as he grows in character and becomes more established in the team.

Another area of his game that must improve is his discipline – he has a tendency to pick up yellow cards.

He seems to get caught out at least once in every game when he disconnects from Hojbjerg or whoever he is playing with, getting drawn out of position.

This sometimes leads him to commit a rash lunge or to make a tactical foul. It is an area that will again improve with experience and I’m confident it is something he will learn to curb pretty quickly.

England prospect – 

In my opinion, Oliver Skipp should be at the front of the queue of players Southgate is looking at to receive their first cap.

The players that he is competing with for a place in the squad are Conor Gallagher, Kalvin Phillips, James Ward- Prowse and Jordan Henderson.

At present, Gallagher cannot even get a game for a struggling Chelsea team, and when he does he look well below the standard required for a top-level midfielder.

Kalvin Phillips made one of the worst career decisions I have witnessed in recent times, with his move to City, and he has hardly played since his transfer.

JWP is a brilliant set piece taker but certainly doesn’t have the all-round game that Skipp does, and Jordan Henderson is only in the squad as an established ‘favourite’, perhaps more for his influence on other players, and is miles past his best (I’m sure even Liverpool fans would agree with me).

Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are England’s two best midfielders, and I think they would rightly keep Skipp out of the first eleven at present.

But I do genuinely believe he is a great squad option for Southgate.

The future of the Tottenham midfield –

One reason for optimism at Spurs is how our midfield is taking shape for the future.

Bissouma, Skipp, Sarr, Bentancur and Hojbjerg are all great players who offer different things to the team, and I don’t think it is an area that needs investment anytime soon.

I also think we will start seeing these players flourish further when they have a more solid foundation behind them, and when we finally see investment in the area that has needed it the most for many years: Defence. The sooner I see the back of Lenglet, Dier and Perisic the happier I will be.

Oh, and the same goes for Sanchez, Tanganga and whoever else (besides Romero) we decide to play in our defence.

Amidst a gloomy few weeks at Tottenham, I do believe Skipp has provided a bright spark of hope.

Long may his development continue. And Gareth, get him in England squad.

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Kane had already converted from the penalty spot earlier in the second half to bring England level in the quarterfinal and he was tasked with going up against his club teammate Hugo Lloris for a second time late in the encounter after Oliver Giroud had restored France’s lead.

(Photo by Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

However, this time, the 29-year-old uncharacteristically failed to hit the target and the Three Lions bowed out of the tournament as a result.

Some might have feared that the World Cup disappointment would affect Kane for the remainder of the season but the striker has continued banging in the goals for Spurs since the restart, having found the back of the net 20 times in 27 league matches so far this season (Transfermarkt).

The England captain will join up with his international teammates for the first time since the World Cup this week for their European Championship qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine, with the Tottenham man needing just one goal to surpass Wayne Rooney as the nation’s leading goalscorer.

When asked if the penalty miss back in December will play on Kane’s mind, Southgate told The Guardian: “I don’t think it’s a big hurdle really.

“I had a good chat with him while we were away. I sent him a message before he went back to his club and then I took a step back and had a look at how it was.

“And I haven’t really felt the need to pick the phone up. It (his recovery) is there in his performances for Spurs.

“Sometimes you can busy yourself and look for a pat on the back by getting in touch with a player but I can’t take any credit for what he’s done.

“What I’ve observed is a player still super-confident, still ready to perform, still hungry to score goals.

“He’s obviously gone through the personal landmark with Spurs and then there’s this one that he’s going to nail with us at some point.

“So, I actually spoke to him earlier this week, but I’ve been able to take a step back and let him get on with it. Sometimes there’s no need to interfere.”

Spurs Web Opinion

That penalty miss and the subsequent criticism was never really going to affect Kane, given how mentally strong he is and the level head he has on his shoulders.

That will certainly not be playing in the 29-year-old’s mind when he takes to the field against the Italians in Naples on Thursday.

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The 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been full of shocks so far, with the likes of Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and Uruguay all crashing out despite being fancied before the start of the tournament.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

We’ve also seen surprise results such as Saudi Arabia beating Argentina, Japan beating Spain, and Cameroon defeating Brazil.

All things considered, it’s been a pretty good tournament for England. Two wins and a draw in the group stages saw the Three Lions top Group B, with nine goals scored and just two conceded so far.

Harry Kane may not have added to his international tally yet, but the 29-year-old does have three assists to his name and many have been impressed with his all-round play.

England now face Senegal tomorrow in the second round, and The Daily Mail has offered an insight into how the players are feeling ahead of the big game.

According to the report, a meeting was held on Friday morning during which Gareth Southgate, captain Harry Kane, and other senior players warned against complacency. John Stones also touched on the approach from everyone involved, even down to the smallest of details.

He said: “Whether it’s putting your kit the right way for the kitmen, we get on each other for things like that because we have created those standards. Not being late to meetings. All those, if you start getting sloppy with little things, the bigger things start to get sloppy very easily.”

“Those little things matter and keep you on the right path. All the good traits we have, we can’t let those slide.”

It is also believed there is a positive feeling around the camp that it is only a matter of time before Harry Kane gets off the mark at the World Cup this year.

Spurs Web Opinion

We saw it at Euro 2020 how Harry Kane saved his best for the knockout stages, and hopefully that happens again in Qatar. He has played really well so far, providing some great assists, but we’re going to need his goals too if we are to go all the way.

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Kane is yet to score in either of England’s opening Group B fixtures and was on the receiving end of a heavy challenge in the second half of the 6-2 victory against Iran last Monday which saw him substituted not long after.

While some of the media (Sky Sports) had claimed that the Tottenham Hotspur marksman had to undergo a scan on his ankle following the tackle, Southgate has clarified that it was his foot that was the receiving location of the blow, rather than his ankle.

Kane is said to be desperate to face Wales such is his desire to break England’s all-time goalscoring record needs just three goals to surpass Wayne Rooney’s tally of 53 for the Three Lions.

Southgate insists that he will pick a strong team with England still to qualify for the next round.

He told The Sun: “We’re obviously going to pick the team we believe we can win. That’s our priority always.”

Southgate added when asked about Kane: “He’s fine in terms of the knock. It’s his foot, not ankle.

“He’s trained well. Only Ben White missing through illness.

“We’ve got pretty much everyone available for selection. It’s a great position to be in.

“It makes selection difficult but we want a full-fit squad.”

(Photo by Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

SpursWeb Opinion

Facing Wales will be a more familiar challenge for England given the two styles on display and will represent something closer to a Premier League fixture that will suit Kane.

The England captain will be keen to get off the mark against their rivals and ensure he has at least one goal to his name entering the knockout stages as he looks to retain his Golden Boot.

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England got their World Cup campaign off to an excellent start, thrashing Iran 6-2 on Monday but they were unable to follow that up with a win over the USA on Friday.

(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Southgate’s men struggled to create too many clear-cut chances of note against the Americans and had to settle for a 0-0 draw, thus leaving them with work to do to qualify for the knockout stages heading into their final group game against Wales.

Dier got over 20 minutes under his belt after replacing Harry Maguire in the second half against Iran and the centre-back was an unused substitute in Friday’s game, with Southgate sticking with a partnership of Maguire and John Stones.

Doherty has now suggested that England could do with the 28-year-old’s passing ability at the back.

The right-back told Tottenham’s official website: “Come on Gareth, get Eric in! England need him spraying balls around from the back. His time is coming!”

Spurs Web Opinion

For all the criticism Maguire has received, he has put in two solid performances so far. I do not see Southgate breaking up the Maguire-Stones partnership for the time being.

I do not think Dier is likely to get too many opportunities at this World Cup. Even if Southgate chooses to shift to a back three in the knockout stages, he will probably move Stones to the middle and play Kyle Walker at right centre-back.

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The Tottenham Hotspur forward picked up an ankle knock in his side’s 6-2 win over Iran on Monday and did not train on Tuesday which led to him undergoing a scan on his right ankle to assess any potential damage to the joint (Sky Sports).

(Photo by ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images)

Kane played on until the 75th minute but was seen leaving the stadium with a slight limp and his right ankle lightly strapped.

The scans came back clear allowing the 29-year-old to resume training with his team-mates with his recovery having been assisted by his personal physio Dr. Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco (Daily Mail).

Southgate said: “Harry is good. It would be a brave decision to leave him out of the starting line up.”

Gareth Southgate on Harry Kane's fitness: "Harry is good. It would be a brave decision to leave him out of the starting line up." #FIFAWorldCup #ENG

— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) November 24, 2022

SpursWeb Opinion

Tottenham fans will especially be breathing a sigh of relief after Kane escaped the type of injury that has previously plagued his career.  Thankfully, the England captain is ready to resume his aim of securing a second Golden Boot and will be hoping to remain injury free ahead of his return to Tottenham when they face Brentford on Boxing Day.

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Kane’s foot seemed to get caught under the challenge of Morteza Pouraliganji at the start of the second half against Iran on Monday. The Tottenham man soldiered on for another 20 minutes before being replaced by Callum Wilson in the 75th minute.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The nation held its collective breath when it emerged after the game that the 29-year-old was set to have a scan on his ankle to determine the nature of his injury (The Athletic).

There was a positive update on the England captain on Wednesday, with The Daily Mail revealing that the results of the scan showed the striker had escaped serious damage.

The report stated that the Tottenham man’s ankle will be heavily strapped as a precaution over the coming days but he is expected to feature on Saturday as long as there is no adverse reaction.

Southgate has now explained that Kane actually had a problem with his foot rather than his ankle, and added that he expects the striker to train with the team on Thursday.

The England boss told ITV Football about the striker’s fitness: “He’s good. He’s worked a little bit more individually today, but he’ll be back in with the team tomorrow and good for the game. We just checked him out just to see. It’s not so much the ankle, it’s more the foot.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I never really had any fears that the injury was serious, given that Kane played on for more than 20 minutes. If the striker felt anything in his ankle, he would have asked to be taken off immediately, given his history of ankle injuries.

It is great to hear that the problem does not have anything to do with the 29-year-old’s ankle. The striker has not had any serious ankle or hamstring problems for the last two and a half years. Long may that continue.

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England kicked off their campaign in Qatar in style with a huge 6-2 win over Iran. Goals from Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, and a Bukayo Saka double helped the Three Lions secure the three points.

(Photo by Mike Hewitt – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Harry Kane may not have been on the scoresheet, but the 29-year-old put in a fine performance and provided two assists. He was substituted on 76 minutes, replaced by Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson.

The change appeared to be purely tactical, to give the England captain a rest with the points in the bag. But, images surfaced after the game of Kane with his ankle strapped up, raising concerns over his fitness (David Ornstein).

Kane was hit by a tough tackle in the 48th minute and stayed down momentarily before leaving the pitch for a quick assessment. Though there is not believed to be any major damage done, the situation has prompted Paul Robinson to slam Southgate for risking Kane in such a way.

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson said: “There was an injury scare with him. I think Southgate should have brought him off at half-time, in all honesty.

“It was 3-0. There was no way back for Iran. The game was done and dusted. There should have been more substitutions at the break. Southgate should have rested players and given players minutes that needed them.”

Kane has been ever-present for Spurs this season (Transfermarkt) and Robinson believes Kane should have been the first priority for Southgate to give a rest to.

He said: “There was no need to risk Harry Kane. There was talk of him being tired or fatigued ahead of the tournament so why not give him a rest?

“The game was done. Why risk him for the second half? That said, Kane was excellent. There was no sign of fatigue from him or any of the England players.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I was thinking the same at half-time to be fair, that Kane should have been taken off and given a proper rest ahead of the game on Friday. He looked absolutely fine and put in a great performance, and he probably wanted to get a goal for himself, but there’s a whole tournament to think of here.

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This will be the first World Cup where nations are allowed to pick 26 players for the tournament, after new rules were introduced by FIFA, a slight increase on the previous 23.

(Photo by Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Despite some early speculation, Ryan Sessegnon has not been named in the Three Lions travelling part to Qatar.  The left wing-back was in action for Tottenham in last night’s Carabao Cup exit at Nottingham Forest and looked to have picked up yet another injury concern at the City Ground (Alasdair Gold).

Dier has not featured in a tournament for England since playing in the last World Cup which was held in 2018 in Russia, having been overlooked Southgate’s squad which made it to the final of Euro 2020 last summer.

Kane will captain his country into the tournament which sees them in Group B along with Wales, Iran and the USA.   They kick off their campaign against Iran on Monday 21st November.

The wait is over.

It's the official #ThreeLions squad announcement for the @FIFAWorldCup! pic.twitter.com/XKJFbaDM0t

— England (@England) November 10, 2022

SpursWeb Opinion

Kane was always a guarantee to be named in the squad, Eric Dier can be somewhat thankful that his early season form was solid after mistakes have creeped back into his game in recent weeks which included gifting goals to both Sporting CP and Liverpool.

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Dier was part of the squad announced for England’s upcoming Nations League clash against Italy and Germany – the first time that the Tottenham man has made the cut in almost two years.

This is also the last squad that Southgate will pick ahead of the final World Cup squad, which has to be named before November 13 (Daily Mail).

Dier celebrated his recall to the Three Lions set-up by scoring for Tottenham in their 6-2 win over Leicester on Saturday.

When asked about being back in the squad, the centre-back told The Evening Standard following the win over the Foxes: “Obviously, yeah, if I wasn’t in this [squad], then I think [that I’d have missed the World Cup]. It’s been a nice week. It would have been better if we had won in Lisbon, but it’s been a good week and a nice way to finish it off here.”

Dier revealed he had spoken to Southgate once when he was out of the squad but the defender insisted that he remained focussed on doing well for Tottenham rather than thinking about getting back into the England set-up.

The 29-year-old added: “I spoke to him (Southgate) once and, as I said, I was focussing on what’s in my control and that’s playing for Tottenham.

“Honestly, it wasn’t really what I was thinking about [playing for England]. I was just thinking about trying to be as good a player as I could be for Tottenham and then everything else that happens as a consequence as that will happen, but I think that’s the only thing I had to focus on.

“It was the only thing that was in my control and then everything else that happens, happens.

“For me, I’m just very thankful for the way my teammates, manager and coaching staff, everyone around at Tottenham, has supported me and pushed me, and tried to help me to get back to the national team.

“I’m just looking forward to going. As my manager said during the week, for me, it’s my ambition for this to be a starting point for me. I think I can still do a lot more.”

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Dier has been exceptional since the start of last season and was arguably deserving of a recall a couple of squads ago. He made it impossible for Southgate to leave him out this time, and he will almost certainly be going to Qatar as his experience of major tournaments will be valuable for the Three Lions.

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Dier’s last appearance for England came in November 2020, against Iceland in the UEFA Nations League. He was in the national team squad for a triple header of World Cup qualifiers in March 2021, but didn’t get any minutes at that time (Transfermarkt).

After a long exile from the England squad, many had called for Dier to be given another chance thanks to his form for Spurs in the 2021/22 season. Dier was integral to Antonio Conte’s system, registering 16 clean sheets across 35 appearances (PremierLeague.com).

The central defender has continued that run of form this campaign, and even scored his first goal in competitive football for three years (Transfermarkt) at the start of the season in the 4-1 win against Southampton.

The fixtures against Italy and Germany, on September 23 and September 26 respectively, will be the final games before Gareth Southgate has to name his squad for the upcoming winter World Cup in Qatar.

Dier will know this is his one and only chance to impress the manager ahead of that all-important squad selection. Dier was a key figure in Southgate’s first major tournament, the 2018 World Cup, and even scored a goal in the Three Lions’ run to the semi-final.

The England squad announcement also sees Harry Kane in the 28-man line-up, which should come as no surprise, with the England captain in fine form currently.

Southgate had this to say about Dier in his press conference (England): “With Eric Dier, he has been playing well for a period of time.

“We think it is a really close call across our centre-backs and he has deserved to be picked back in the group.

“We know what a good character he is. He fits in with the culture and has great international experience and leadership qualities.”

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I’m absolutely delighted for Eric Dier, and it’s a thoroughly deserved recall to the international stage. He has worked so hard and improved so much in the last 12 months, and now I just hope he gets to make it onto the pitch in those two games and show what he can do.

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The central defender, who has 45 caps to his name has not featured for the Three Lions since the 4-0 win over Iceland in November 2020, but was included in a squad 18 months ago.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane retains his place in the squad as the captain of his country.

The squad for the UEFA Nations League double-header against Italy in Milan next Friday and Germany at Wembley the following Monday is the last one to be named before he decides which players he must take to the World Cup in Qatar which begins in late November.

The FIFA deadline for the final 26-man squad is November 13, with the tournament starting the following week.

Gareth Southgate has named a 28-man squad for our #ThreeLions' upcoming games against Italy and Germany:

— England (@England) September 15, 2022

SpursWeb Opinion

Dier has been one of Tottenham’s most consistent performers since Antonio Conte took charge last November and is perfectly suited to playing in a central defensive back three.

He thoroughly deserves his place back in the England squad following his displays this season and now has the opportunity to impress ahead of the World Cup.

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Dier was a revelation at the heart of Antonio Conte’s defence last season, starting 35 Premier League games as Tottenham clinched fourth place and a return to Champions League football (TransferMarkt).

Despite his impressive displays, the 28-year-old was omitted from Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad, ahead of a series of post-season Nations League fixtures.

The centre-back’s last England appearance came in a 4-0 victory over Iceland in November 2020 (EnglandStats) and the former Sporting Lisbon youngster is hoping to mark that two-year anniversary by forcing himself into Southgate’s side in Qatar.

Having appeared for England at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Dier admitted he would love to play a role again this winter.

He said (Football.London): “That’s a clear objective of mine. I would never shy away from that. I want to be there. It’s just up to me playing the best I can. Take everything from last season and kick on.

“That’s all I can focus on, give myself every opportunity and have no regrets in the way I do everything leading up to the next England squad and the World Cup and see what happens.

“There’s nothing quite like a World Cup. It was an incredible time and I’d love to be a part of another one.”

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Dier has become accustomed to playing the central role in Antonio Conte’s back-three, a system which Southgate has often utilised for the national side (Football.London).

However, Dier will have to move above defenders such as John Stones, Conor Coady and Marc Guehi in order to cement himself into Southgate’s plans.

I believe that Eric fully deserves the call-up and he has proven over this last year that no other English defender can play that central role to his standard.

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