England’s Euro 2020 hopes have been handed a massive boost after Tottenham Hotspur boss José Mourinho revealed the Three Lions and Spurs captain, Harry Kane, will be back in action before the end of the season.
The 26-year-old suffered a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring in Spurs’ New Year’s Day defeat away to Southampton and it was feared that he would miss England’s campaign after needing surgery on the injury – which would have been a huge blow for Gareth Southgate’s side, who are favourites in the Euro 2020 odds.
However, despite the expectations of being out for up to six months, Kane is already in light rehabilitation following the successful surgery – sharing a video on his official Twitter account of him doing some light stretches in the gym – whilst Spurs’ medial team have claimed their talisman will be back in full training come April.
Working hard. Making progress. pic.twitter.com/2ZXnPgPFAG
— Harry Kane (@HKane) January 30, 2020
The two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, who has been injury-prone in the past, but always recovered quickly, has jetted to the Caribbean for a spell of warm-weather training in a bid to get back sooner.
Spurs gaffer Mourinho is optimistic that Kane will be back in time for his side’s last two games of the season, which could be crucial in deciding whether the North London outfit will be playing Champions League or Europa League football.
“The Leicester match. Maybe we need that match for something,” the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss told the Press Association.
“To be fourth, to be fifth, to be sixth. Maybe we need that match for something and maybe he can help us in this match. I hope.
“There is not a setback. Nothing has happened. Everything is OK. He’s having his treatment. There’s no pressure, he keeps going, no setback. I just think that’s my feeling…with (Hugo) Lloris we were speaking about February and he came back in January.
“It’s better not to put any kind of expectations, any kind of pressure. Let it go and let’s see.”
Kane was crucial for Southgate’s side as they reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in 2018, scoring five goals in Group C before finding the net again against Colombia in the quarter-finals – a goal that won him the competition’s Golden Boot.
The 26-year-old showed his importance to the national team again bagging 12 goals in England’s eight Euro 2020 qualifiers – including two hat-tricks – taking his total to 32 goals on the international stage.
Southgate will be relying on his star man as they have been drawn against Croatia, who knocked them out of the World Cup two years ago, before holding the Three Lions to a goalless draw in the Nations League shortly after, and the Czech Republic, who stunned England with their only defeat in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Meanwhile, should Scotland get through their play-off matches against Israel and the winner of Norway v Serbia, they will be thrown into Group D with their bitter rivals. However, more worrying for Southgate would be facing Norway with the possibility of in-form Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Håland giving his defence nightmares.