England interim manager Lee Carsley is set to make a ‘shock omission’ from his starting line-up for Thursday’s Nations League clash against Greece, according to reports.
To stand any chance of being promoted to the Nations League‘s top tier, England must beat in-form Greece at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
It will be a difficult test for the Three Lions, who will be without a host of their biggest names after nine players dropped out of Lee Carsley’s squad for upcoming matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale and Levi Colwill have all withdrawn alongside Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite.
England captain Harry Kane, meanwhile, is far from happy with the number of players who have pulled out from the latest England squad.
“I think England comes before anything. England comes before club,” Kane told ITV Sport.
“England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth [Southgate] was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.”
When asked if the desire to play for England has shifted, Kane said: “Yeah, it’s a shame this week obviously. I think it’s a tough period of the season, maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit.”
He added: “I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think England comes before anything, any club situation.”
A day after those comments emerged and Kane is set to be omitted from Lee Carsley’s team for their clash against Greece on Thursday, according to The Guardian, who claim the Bayern Munich striker is fully fit.
The report goes on to suggest that the selection news has ’caused surprise’ within the dressing room.
Kane is not happy with the number of players who have withdrawn from the latest England squad. Image credit: Getty Images
Jarrad Branthwaite is the latest player to withdraw from Carsley’s squad after the Everton centre-back failed to recover from an injury he picked up against West Ham on Saturday.
His place in the squad has been taken by Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah. “It’s a great opportunity for Jarell,” said Carsley, who will end his short reign as interim on Sunday, when England come up against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday.