- Ollie Watkins was preferred over Harry Kane in Thursday’s game against Greece
- The England captain gives his verdict on Lee Carsley’s controversial decision
- Is Harry Kane right to blast England drop-outs? LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Available wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes every Monday and Thursday
England captain Harry Kane has admitted his shock at being dropped for Thursday’s clash in Greece.
Interim head coach Lee Carsley, who takes charge of England for the final time before Thomas Tuchel’s arrival in January against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday, sprung a surprise by omitting Kane from his starting XI for the 3-0 win in Athens.
Carsley insists Kane was not dropped but rather he wanted to give Ollie Watkins – who scored the opener – an opportunity.
But asked whether he was shocked at Carsley’s decision, Kane answered: ‘Probably a little bit, when he told me, it was like “okay”, getting my head around it.
‘I wasn’t down about it, I wasn’t worried about it, I understood where he was coming from and I think that’s part and parcel of being captain as well, being a leader, you sometimes have to take things in your stride.
Asked whether he fears losing his place under Tuchel, who will hold a post-camp debrief with Carsley, the England captain added: ‘That’s going to be Thomas’s decision, for sure. But I think ultimately, from my point of view, I always feel like I’m picked for England on form and on credit. It’s not just because I’m England captain.
Harry Kane admits he was a little bit shocked at Lee Carsley’s decision to drop him on Thursday
Carsley opted to start Ollie Watkins up front in his penultimate game as the Three Lions boss
‘Now I’m here. I’m coming off the back of my best season, last season, individually and also this season, I started the year really well.
‘So maybe if I wasn’t playing as well as I have in the recent past, that could be an argument, but ultimately I feel like I’m at the peak of my game for my club, which is ultimately where you get picked.’
Meanwhile, Carsley has revealed he wanted to select Liverpool forward Harvey Elliott and Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey during his six games in charge.
‘It’s just a shame Harvey Elliott and Jacob Ramsey weren’t ready. They would have been involved.’
