Tuesday 23 / April / 2024
DOHA: England are waiting nervously on the results of an ankle scan to see if captain Harry Kane will be fit to play in their remaining Group B matches against the United States and Wales.
Kane was the victim of a heavy challenge in the 48th minute of England's 6-2 win over Iran on Monday and needed on-pitch treatment before playing on until the 75th minute, when he was substituted for Callum Wilson.
After the game he was seen with strapping on his ankle and was walking with a slight limp, although he subsequently took part in Tuesday's recovery session.
The fact he was able to train is positive news ahead of Friday's match against the U.S., but the worry for England is that the 29-year-old has a history of ankle problems during his career.
Kane arrived at the World Cup with 51 goals for England, just two shy of all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney. He has adapted his game in the past couple of seasons and now often drops into a deeper role, pulling defenders out of position and creating space for England's pacy midfielders, such as Mason Mount, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling.
That tactic worked brilliantly against Iran, with Kane laying on two assists as Saka scored twice, while Bellingham opened the scoring and Sterling also got on the scoresheet, with Kane providing the assist for the winger to score.
England have a history of key players suffering injuries in the run-up to the World Cup finals, with David Beckham and Wayne Rooney both suffering foot injuries that badly affected their displays in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals.
