Carsley backs benched Kane to bounce back

ATHENS — England interim boss Lee Carsley has backed Harry Kane to respond to being dropped against Greece by confirming he will start in Sunday’s UEFA Nations League clash against Republic of Ireland at Wembley.

Despite nine withdrawals decimating the options Carsley had available for a must-win game, regular captain Kane was omitted from the starting lineup here in Athens.

Yet the Three Lions eased to a 3-0 win through Ollie Watkins‘ seventh-minute opener, a Odisseas Vlachodimos own goal and Curtis Jones‘ sublime late back-flick.

England will secure automatic promotion back to League A with a victory on Sunday, a game in which Kane will earn his 103rd cap at the end of a week in which he questioned the commitment of some players who withdrew from the squad.

“He was absolutely fine [with being left out],” said Carsley. “I think it would be fair to say he wants to play every game, like all top players do. But I think he understands that it’s important that other players experience that kind of experience that we had tonight.

“He’s a great example to the rest of the players. I expect him to start on Sunday and play well.

“It was brilliant for Ollie to get a goal. I think it is important that if we are going to put these players in a position where we are going to go and win the World Cup then these players need to have as many experiences as they can. It was no slight on Harry. He will start the next game.”

Carsley confirmed Ezri Konsa was substituted at half-time with a hip problem and will undergo a scan on Saturday. The centre-back will return to Aston Villa if there is any sign of an injury.

He handed three players their debuts — Jones started while Morgan Rogers and Lewis Hall came off the bench — in a youthful lineup leaning heavily on his experience as under-21 boss. That decision paid off as England exacted revenge for a 2-1 home defeat by Greece last month.

“I definitely have faith in younger players but I have faith in older ones as well,” he said.

“When you saw the team you may have thought it was a gamble or risk but I’ve seen evidence and it’s been backed up.

“We talk about the performance at Wembley [when] we tried something that didn’t come off but tonight was very similar in terms of a lot of players that didn’t have that experience of playing for England. But now they have that under their belts they’ve come to Greece and dominated the game, I think it’ll put us in good stead for the future.”