Kane & Redmond included in England squad for Nations League finals

Tottenham striker, who has been nursing an ankle problem, will be looking to end the season with Champions League and international medals

England captain Harry Kane has been named in Gareth Southgate’s initial 27-man squad for the Nations League finals, with the Tottenham striker expected to be fit for Champions League and international duty.

Kane has been out of action since April 9, with an ankle problem having brought a premature end to his Premier League efforts in 2018-19.

Spurs are, however, confident that he will be ready to lead their line in a European showpiece on June 1, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side preparing to face Liverpool.

If he comes through that outing unscathed, then Kane may be asked to front England’s charge for silverware in Portugal.

The Three Lions are due to face the Netherlands in a Nations League semi-final on June 6.

Portugal face Switzerland in the other last-four encounter, with a third place play-off and the final set to be staged on June 9.

England will be desperate to be involved in a contest with a trophy on the line, having built positively upon the foundations put down during a run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.

Kane led the way at that tournament, as a Golden Boot winner, and Southgate will be looking to him for more inspiration in the final third.

The Three Lions boss does, however, have plenty of alternative attacking talent at his disposal.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford comes back in after missing the March internationals, along with Premier League title winner Raheem Sterling of Manchester City and Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson.

Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho gets the nod again, while Southampton wideman Nathan Redmond is included in the senior ranks alongside club colleague James Ward-Prowse.

Joe Gomez of Liverpool comes back into the defensive ranks after recovering from a broken leg, but Manchester United’s Luke Shaw misses out to Tottenham’s Danny Rose and Leicester’s Ben Chilwell in the battle for left-back berths.

England squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Butland, Heaton, Pickford

Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Rose, Trippier, Chilwell, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Stones, Walker

Midfielders: Alli, Dier, Lingard, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Barkley, Delph, Henderson, Rice, Sancho, Winks

Forwards: Kane, Sterling, Rashford, Wilson