Soccer

Gareth Southgate hoping he has a full hand for England's clash with Scotland

England manager Gareth Southgate during a press conference at St George's Park, Burton on Monday<br />Picture by PA&nbsp;
England manager Gareth Southgate during a press conference at St George's Park, Burton on Monday
Picture by PA 
England manager Gareth Southgate during a press conference at St George's Park, Burton on Monday
Picture by PA 

GARETH SOUTHGATE is crossing his fingers England will not be weakened by withdrawals ahead of key games against Scotland and Spain, but admits it is touch and go.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane will be carefully assessed at St George's Park after ending a seven-week ankle lay-off in last Sunday's north London and, despite the importance of Friday's all-British encounter at Wembley, there is no appetite to rush his return.

Kane managed 73 minutes and, crucially, the equalising goal in a 1-1 draw at Arsenal but Southgate will treat the 23-year-old with kid gloves. First-choice full-backs Kyle Walker and Danny Rose also suffered knocks at the Emirates Stadium and are among those who need to pass fitness checks, while Arsenal's Theo Walcott is due to become a father for the second time and could be called away at short notice to attend the birth.

With Spurs midfielder Dele Alli already absent alongside Manchester United pair Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw - whose unavailability appeared to vex Jose Mourinho at the weekend - Southgate is pinning his hopes on good news.

"The first thing we have to do with Harry is check how he is after yesterday," said the interim manager, whose four-game deal expires next week.

"I think Spurs, maybe with Dele missing, took a decision for what was a very big game for them. We have a big game ourselves so we need to see what level Harry's at when he reports, but it was great to see him back scoring and with a smile on his face at the end of the game.

"We're not certain we'll be able to keep everybody available for the two matches. We have named 25 in the squad for that reason, there are a couple of knocks from Sunday that we're not totally sure about and Theo Walcott might have to disappear off at any time as his wife is expecting."

Given the expanded nature of the get together, those who were not summoned might feel particularly disappointed. They include Everton's Ross Barkley, who is enduring a difficult season and has not been required since Euro 2016, Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and West Ham midfielder Michail Antonio.

Southgate may, of course, have no further say in their international futures. Both he and the English Football Association have been careful not to talk too freely about the future beyond the double-header, though the lack of obvious alternatives speaks well for his candidacy. And if he does end up in the post permanently, there was good news for those left behind on this occasion.

Asked if Barkley had been close to a recall, Southgate said: "Absolutely...we are fortunate that we have some very good players.

"It was very difficult to make the call to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Michail Antonio as well because I've seen them all playing in recent weeks and they've had good performances.

"But we have strength in depth and competition for places and any of these guys could force their way into the squad. I've no doubt they will in the coming months but we have to take a decision for the game on Friday and the game next Tuesday and this is the balance of the squad we went with."

Southgate offered the kind of resolute block he would have been proud of in his playing days when pressed for an update on his intentions for the top job. The 46-year-old has yet to even confirm he is interested in succeeding Sam Allardyce on a long-term basis and was again unwilling to take the spotlight away from matters at hand.

"What happens to me isn't important over the next 10 days, it's about us preparing to beat Scotland and about leaving the team and the country top of qualifying at the end of Friday night," he said.

"That's my only focus. I've got two really exciting matches to take charge of team and I'm really looking forward to doing that. What's important is I'm leading my country in an important and prestigious game and the focus is on preparing the team as well as possible."

Players can expect to hear plenty about the storied rivalry with Scotland - sporting and otherwise - in the coming days, with Southgate ready to give a crash course to any player who needs one.

Yet, he was willing to offer undiluted praise for at least one Scotsman at the start of the week: the new number one in world tennis, Andy Murray: "He's a brilliant example for our young children, he's an athlete who's dedicated himself to his sport," said Southgate.

"He's number one in the world at a time when there are at least four of the greatest players ever seen on the tennis circuit. People knocked him a lot as he made his way up and it's interesting he had to go through some near misses, semi-finals, finals, defeats that would have hurt him a lot.

"There he is now, a sportsman we're all proud of north and south of the border, and a great ambassador for British sport."