Alan Shearer is not the only former England star urging Gareth Southgate to hand Callum Wilson a start against Wales on Tuesday. Wayne Rooney has made a similar case that Harry Kane should be rested with Wilson an more than competent replacement.
The Chronicle has published the following from Rooney, who currently manages DC United in the MLS:
“The other big change I would make for the Wales match would be to rest Harry Kane.
“Against the USA, he looked like he may have been suffering the effects of a heavy knock he took in the Iran game. It was from a tackle in the second half and in that match I felt that Gareth should have considered taking him off at half-time.
“England were leading 3-0, the game was already won and Harry is our most important player. When there are opportunities to protect him and help him stay fit, I believe Gareth should take them — and that is why I would keep Harry on the bench against Wales.
“He is an incredible competitor and will always want to play but sometimes managers need to take things out of a player’s hands. Since it is now almost impossible for England not to qualify for the round of 16, Gareth has a chance to manage Harry’s workload.
“Callum Wilson, as we saw when he came on against Iran, is more than capable of deputizing and the priority has to be the knockout stage. Harry needs to be fresh for that. In previous tournaments he has looked a bit tired towards the end and a rest on Tuesday could make a big difference.”
While England’s levels dropped against the US, they remain in an excellent position to advance to the knockout stages. Their 6-2 throttling of Iran in their opening match has given the England boss some breathing room.
England need just to draw against Wales, or avoid a thrashing, on Tuesday to advance. While a defeat doesn’t confirm elimination, that would be a disastrous result even if they squeak through.
Saving Kane for the knockout rounds makes sense. He struggled on Friday in the scoreless draw against the States. Lingering issues with his ankle could be an explanation for that though the entire team was off their game.
It remains to be seen if Southgate makes the brave decision to rest Kane. If he does, Wilson is a safe pair of hands to help pick up the result necessary to ensure a place in the knockout rounds.
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39 comments so far
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:13 AM
Comment #1Ok!
JohnJ
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:14 AM
Comment #2Good Morning Folks
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:14 AM
Comment #3Just try something ‘outta the box’, for crying out loud!
😀
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:14 AM
Comment #4Hey JJ
JohnJ
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:14 AM
Comment #5Ha, I just missed number 1
JohnJ
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:15 AM
Comment #6Herr Flick beat me to it!
🙂
niafron
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:18 AM
Comment #7Well, no problem to qualify for England, don’t see them losing by 4 goals against Wales…
However, the first place of the group is at stake, so i think Southgate will decide who will play at the last moment, when the results of group A will be known.
Dubai Micky
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:24 AM
Comment #8Good call that niafron.
niafron
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:26 AM
Comment #9Well, still, there’s a question: what would be best for England? Netherland, Ecuador or Senegal?
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 10:59 AM
Comment #10Senegal
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:00 AM
Comment #11‘Harry is our most important player’ Really, anyone else think that?
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:07 AM
Comment #12Egb
There’s a large part of the problem, hey?
The tyranny of the ‘press’ pick’ player.
Same old way, too reliant on one guy!
niafron
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:08 AM
Comment #13Senegal or perhaps a good tough game against Netherland, could give you the sparkle you need.
But not Ecuador, really a kind of Football which could be a problem for England.
Mort
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:11 AM
Comment #14Clint Flick
He’s against a foreign manager maybe because he’s a racist EDL member?
clinath@ed
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:14 AM
Comment #15Football is generally obsessed with the individual personality. Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar etc…
The press and fans forget it’s a team sport
clinath@ed
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:15 AM
Comment #16Sorry, I’m in a bad mood this morning…
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:16 AM
Comment #17Niafron
Agree, totally!
Nederland would wake them up!
Equador would confuse them.
Too quick, and would ‘expect’ to win.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:17 AM
Comment #18Clint
Exactly mate!
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:17 AM
Comment #19Mort
That’s a bold statement, mate!
clinath@ed
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:18 AM
Comment #20Great team goal by Serbia….hahahahahahah
Romford mag
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:20 AM
Comment #21No I in team!
Mort
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:22 AM
Comment #22Messi in trouble
Mort
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:26 AM
Comment #23Michael Beale rejected Wolves to go back to Rangers instead? Weird move
clinath@ed
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:30 AM
Comment #24I fairness to balance…..great individual finish by the Cameroon.
clinath@ed
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:30 AM
Comment #253-3
This is turning into a great game
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:32 AM
Comment #26Open football!
Nice!
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:42 AM
Comment #27Might watch this one again, later…for fun!
😀
clinath@ed
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:48 AM
Comment #28Hahahahaha
clinath@ed
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #29Southgate will be hiding behind the settee watching this one
Regan
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Comment #30Rom..
You are correct..
There is no I in team..
But there’s two in martini..
And it’s your turn for the bar..
😆
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 28, 2022 at 11:54 AM
Comment #31If Harry really was the most important member of the England team then we are in the Sh!te! 🙄
CLINT FLICK
Nov 28, 2022 at 12:03 PM
Comment #32Mort
Sorry, it wasn’t a statement, it was a question…my bad!
Jusr read back.
Oops!
hibbit
Nov 28, 2022 at 12:12 PM
Comment #33over the years we’ve had some very cleaver wums operate in our mist, but even the cleverest eventual make mistakes just like this morning ???.
niafron
Nov 28, 2022 at 12:17 PM
Comment #34About resting players, we will have a good idea of how the things are working in the french national team with the last game.
Everybody think Mbappé should not play… except perhaps Mbappé himself.
Cause he’s chasing records ( of goals and assists ).
So we will see if Deschamps can keep him on the bench without a drama.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 28, 2022 at 12:39 PM
Comment #35CF,
Good of you to apologise to Mort, thanks for the defence in his accusations of me being a racist EDL member.
Romford mag
Nov 28, 2022 at 12:44 PM
Comment #36Regan
Fair do’s!
Shaken or stired?
😉
Romford mag
Nov 28, 2022 at 12:46 PM
Comment #37Or straight out the bottle ! 😆
Mort
Nov 28, 2022 at 1:12 PM
Comment #38Another issue with migrants is the disease they could bring with them like covid etc. In this case diphtheria. Personally I’d send them back where they came from as soon as they get here. Not worth the risk because of human rights laws. Personal opinion.
Ashingtoon62
Nov 28, 2022 at 7:15 PM
Comment #39(LOL)