Former Liverpool legend Graeme Souness not happy with Gareth Southgate’s decision of playing on Harry Kane after injury incident against Iran

England started off their World Cup campaign with a 6-2 drubbing of Iran and in that game one of the few concerns for manager Gareth Southgate was Harry Kane’s injury. The Spurs striker was challenged in the second half and there he was down with a concern on his ankle. However he then got up and played for another 20 odd minutes before ultimately coming off.

Kane had a scan and looks like he has avoided an injury as he trained with the entire team on Wednesday. In all likelihood Kane will be fit to start their second game against the USA. But former Liverpool legend Graeme Souness had shared his thoughts on the injury incident and highlighted how he would have reacted if he was the England boss.

“I’m watching England with a manager’s head on and when I see the challenge, I’m thinking, ‘this boy’s got a history with his ankles’,” Souness told after the game to Sky Sports. He highlighted how Kane has an issue with his ankles and was surprised to see how Southgate risked him by not taking him off right after the incident instead the England captain played for 20 odd minutes before eventually coming off.

“He stayed down a bit, he wasn’t right, he was walking gingerly on it. I’m thinking, ‘he has to come off now’. That happened in the 48th minute and he went off in the 75th. He had 27 minutes running on that ankle,” Souness added.

He highlighted how Kane might have thought of scoring goals like his teammates against Iran but it was a mistake on his part as he should be more careful in the coming matches. “Some players need saving from themselves. He’s a goalscorer. He’s thinking, ‘there are goals in this game against Iran and I’m going to stay on’. I think that’s a mistake.”

Souness rates the English team very highly but he considers Kane a vital playe rin this setup. He shared how Kane will step up in important matches against stronger oppositions, he does not see that match winning trait in anyone else and hence keeping Kane fit has to be the main priority.

“”I’ve written about this competition prior to coming here and I think England could do really, really well, as long as Harry scores lots of goals. I’m not sure when they are playing proper teams, who else is going to get goals,” Souness opined.

While England scored six past Iran with Bukayo Saka scoring a brace, Jude Bellingham breaking the deadlock, Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford all chipping in with a goal, there were concerns over Harry Kane and Harry Maguire regarding their health. Also they conceded two late goals and that can be an area of concern for the Three Lions. The other match in the group ended 1-1 between USA and Wales.

Hence Christian Pulisic and company will look to get off the mark against England and it wont be a walk in the park for Gareth Southgate’s men in the upcoming World Cup fixture.