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England captain Harry Kane has blasted his team-mates after eight players withdrew from the latest Three Lions squad.
Interim boss Lee Carsley has seen a staggering number of players pull out of his squad, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Aaron Ramsdale all leaving the camp on Monday.
Carsley is taking charge of his final camp before Thomas Tuchel takes over next year and Kane has suggested some players have “taken advantage” of the packed club schedule, while he urged team-mates not to lose the positive culture fostered under Gareth Southgate.
“[Gareth] Southgate brought the joy to play for England back,” Kane told ITV.
“Every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and that’s the most important thing.
“I think England comes before anything. England comes before club, it is the most important thing as a professional footballer.
“Gareth was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players.”
When asked if he felt that feeling had drifted from players this week, Kane said: “It’s a shame this week, obviously. It’s a tough period of the season and maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit.
“I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. England comes before anything and any club situation.”
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ‘It’s been taken advantage of, I don’t like it!’
💬 Harry Kane ahead of England’s Nations League clash with Greece tomorrow
🗣️ @GabrielClarke05 pic.twitter.com/weboym5qrG
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 13, 2024
Rogers: ‘England call up a pinch me moment’
One player who has benefitted from the withdrawals is Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, who was drafted in for his first call-up.
The Villa forward has been a revelation for Unai Emery since his £15million move from Middlesbrough in January after scoring three goals and providing two assists in his 11 Premier League games this season.
“Obviously, I’m a big England fan, so I watched all the internationals growing up. So playing with these players now is a pinch-me moment,” he said.
“But I’m just really excited to learn what it’s all about and to show what I’m about at the same time.
“I’m enjoying my football at the moment. I think I’m playing pretty well, but I know there’s obviously still work to do and work to improve on.
“I’m so thankful and grateful I’m here, now I can say that I’ve finally been called up and it’s a great honour.
“I think I just try and push myself every day and see what new levels I can reach.
“I’ve probably surprised myself at times, maybe this season, with how well I’ve done, but I’ve always had that confidence and that belief in myself that I can get to this level and maintain it.
“It’s more about maintaining my consistency, keep it going, and hopefully I can get better and better and just keep improving.”