England fans criticize Harry Kane after Three Lions captain takes subtle swipe at Arsenal and Chelsea stars

Eight players who were initially selected for Lee Carsley's squad last week have had to withdraw for different reasons. In addition, one of the replacements, Jarrad Branthwaite, has also been forced to return to his club due to injury.

As a result, England will look to avenge last month’s shock Wembley defeat against Greece without a number of regulars including the likes of Cole Palmer Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.

Arsenal, in particular, have been best by injury problems this season amid a grueling schedule that now appears to have accounted for Ben White who has undergone a minor operation on a knee injury that could keep him out of action for six weeks.

Kane, however, fears some of his international teammates ‘have taken advantage’ of minor knocks in order to gain a fortnight off, something that would never have happened under Gareth Southgate.

‘I think England comes before anything. England comes before club,’ Kane told ITV Sport.

‘England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth [Southgate] was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.’

When asked if the desire to play for England has drifted this international break, Kane said: ‘Yeah, it’s a shame this week obviously.

‘I think it’s a tough period of the season, maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit.

‘I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think England comes before anything, any club situation.’

Fans, however, were quick to remind Kane that he, himself, missed March’s friendly games with an ankle injury only to return in time for Bayern Munich’s crucial Champions League fixtures soon after, but that he also played through the pain barrier at Euro 2024 to the detriment of the team.

‘Where was Harry Kane during the March international break?’ said one Chelsea fan on X, while another added ‘His heart is in the right place but he must remember that he played injured during the euros and we all know how that went.’

Another fan, meanwhile, asked: ‘Rice has a broken toe, Saka couldn’t finish the Chelsea game, Trent went off within 20 minutes on Saturday.. why should these players put their bodies and seasons in jeopardy when not fully fit for meaningless nations’ league or friendly games?’