England captain Harry Kane could miss Thursday’s international friendly against Wales after the Bayern Munich striker was unable to take part in Wednesday’s training session. The development comes just days after Kane picked up an ankle knock during Bayern’s 2–1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Kane, who joined England’s camp earlier in the week, initially reassured fans about his condition, saying, “I am recovering at the moment. I took a knock. A few days and then I should be fine, so no problem for the national team. I will be there on Monday.” However, the 32-year-old, who holds the record as England’s all-time top scorer with 74 goals, sat out of training at St. George’s Park alongside Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah, who is yet to make his senior debut.
According to a statement from the Football Association (FA), both players were “following their own respective routines indoors” as the remaining 22 squad members trained outdoors. Kane’s absence raises questions about England’s attacking setup ahead of the highly anticipated friendly.
With Kane’s availability in doubt, Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen, and Anthony Gordon are among the top contenders to lead England’s front line. Each has shown impressive form at club level, giving manager Gareth Southgate several strong options to test ahead of next week’s crucial World Cup qualifier in Latvia.
England currently sits seven points clear at the top of Group K, maintaining a perfect record with five wins from five matches. The Three Lions now need just a few more points to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Kane’s fitness, England’s camp remains confident as they prepare to host Wales at a sold-out Wembley Stadium, a fixture expected to provide both a test and an opportunity to fine-tune before competitive action resumes.
By Yockshard Enyendi