Harry Kane has been told he’s likely to miss Euro 2020 by one of the country’s leading surgeons, according to reports in the Daily Mail and The Sun.
Kane ruptured a tendon in his hamstring in Tottenham Hotspur’s recent defeat at Southampton. He’s had surgery since and was originally told that he should be back by April. However, orthopaedic surgeon Chris Wilson said: “I would expect it to be six months before he could return to action.
“There is a big range of opinion because it is such an uncommon procedure and some surgeons may say quicker.”
This could be a massive blow for England’s tournament winning chances. Kane won the golden boot in the 2018 World Cup, scoring six times as the Three Lions reached the semi-finals.
Leading Surgeon Warns Harry Kane Could Miss the Euros
Managing Expectations
The Tottenham striker is hoping to be back by the Springtime so he can feature in Spurs’ last few games this season, but Dr Wilson has warned that Kane shouldn’t get his hopes up.
“If I was talking to a top-level footballer I would want to manage their expectations and say I wouldn’t anticipate them being fit and playing normally in a game for six months following the surgery.
“If it was me I would say aim for getting fit for pre-season training. I am aware in Harry Kane’s case they have been saying April or May – I have to say I would be very surprised.”
Dr Wilson has carried out this same operation 75 times. He’s also said that there is a risk that Kane could re-rupture the tendon if he’s rushed back too quickly. He also added that the chances of him returning quicker than expected are “not impossible.”
Who Can Replace Harry Kane?
There’s no doubt Southgate will be anxiously planning for a tournament without his top striker. He’ll have to assess who is the best option to potentially replace him. His best option could be to try and convince Jamie Vardy to come out of international retirement. Vardy called time on his England career shortly after the World Cup in 2018, but he said he’d be open to a return if the Three Lions suffered an injury crisis. As the Premier League’s top scorer with 17 goals already this term, he’d surely be England’s first choice if Kane doesn’t make the Euros.
If that doesn’t happen, Southgate could look to move Marcus Rashford central. The Manchester United attacker has 14 Premier League goals this season, but he’s often more effective playing on the left side of a front three. Elsewhere, Tammy Abraham has enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season with Chelsea. The 22-year-old has hit 13 goals in the top flight this season. He came off the bench to score his first senior goal in England’s last outing – a 7-0 win over Montenegro.
Southampton striker Danny Ings has to be a consideration for Southgate. He’s hit nine goals in his last ten Premier League appearances. The division’s joint-second top scorer has been an inspirational figure in the Saint’s impressive turnaround in form. He’s surely ahead of Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson at the minute. He hasn’t scored in the league since September.
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