MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 17:00:57| >> :60:1876:1876:

Gareth Southgate insists Harry Kane is "so focused" despite transfer rumours

Gareth Southgate insists Harry Kane is
© Reuters
National team manager Gareth Southgate insists transfer speculation will not be a distraction for the captain at this summer's Euros.

Gareth Southgate does not believe swirling speculation about Harry Kane's future will impact the England captain and the rest of the squad at this summer's European Championship.

After seeing pleas to come on against San Marino ignored last week, the 27-year-old marked his return to Three Lions action in Albania by kicking off Sunday's 2-0 win and taking his international tally to 33 goals in 52 games.

That World Cup qualifier came amid fresh talk about Kane's Tottenham future, with the England skipper saying he was fully focused "from now until the end of the summer and then we'll see where we go from there".

Harry Kane
Speculation surrounds Harry Kane's Tottenham future (Tim Keeton/PA)

Speculation about the striker's Spurs future looks set to rumble on throughout the summer, but Southgate does not think it will have a negative impact as the national team looks to win the European Championship.

Southgate said: "No, he's so focused.

"I had a chat with him, as I do with all of the players when they come into the camp, and he's very positive about the club.

"He was talking about only being a couple of points off the Champions League, in a League Cup final and you can see his focus in the game the other day.

"He scored a fantastic goal and an excellent assist as well, so I've got no worries about Harry Kane. He's a fantastic professional.

Harry Kane, right
Harry Kane, right, celebrates after his assist for Mason Mount's goal against Albania (Florian Abazaj/PA)

"His focus is always on the next training session, the next match and he's somebody that can absolutely put anything to one side."

Having gone close to glory with club and country, Kane has the chance to lift his first major trophy when Spurs take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final next month.

This summer also provides the opportunity for the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot winner to lead England to glory on home soil when the rearranged European Championships get under way.

"I think Harry is, of course, a highly motivated player and all players want to win," Southgate said of his skipper on the eve of the World Cup qualifier against Poland.

"They want to win things and he's got an opportunity with his club in the next few weeks to do that. I have got four players in the other dressing room (with Manchester City) as well so I can't state any sort of preference for that.

"But you want to be in the latter stages of competitions. He's played in a Champions League final with Tottenham, he's now got a second League Cup final coming up and for certain those are the occasions as players you want to be involved in.

"You want to be involved in the major tournaments and you want to be in the important matches, domestic cups and the league, of course."

ID:441227:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6466:

Click here for more stories about Harry Kane

Click here for more stories about Tottenham Hotspur

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
England manager Gareth Southgate pictured on March 25, 2021
Read Next:
A closer look at England's previous matches with Poland
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!