England striker Harry Kane says he is ready to face Scotland in a World Cup qualifier on Friday despite having played only 70 minutes of football since injuring his ankle seven weeks ago. The Premier League's leading scorer last season returned for Tottenham Hotspur in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Sunday, scoring his side's equaliser from the penalty spot before being substituted late on. Interim England coach Gareth Southgate said on Monday that Kane's fitness would be carefully monitored in the build-up to the Wembley clash but the 23-year-old said he was feeling sharp. "I think the fact I was fit for Sunday was the test to see if I was fit enough to come away with England," Kane told a news conference on Tuesday. "I felt good, sharp and not too bad fitness-wise. There was no reason not to come away. As long as my injury is managed well and I keep doing the rehab it shouldn't be a problem... it will put me in good stead for the rest of the season." Kane, Theo Walcott, Marcus Rashford, Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy are the other forwards at Southgate's disposal for Friday's Group F tussle at Wembley. "We've got more than enough to win the game," said Kane. "We all know how big the game is. It will be an amazing atmosphere."
England and Scotland are facing each other in a competitive fixture for the first time since 1999 when the Scots won 1-0 at Wembley in a Euro 2000 playoff, having lost the home leg 2-0.Wilshere and Harry Kane have been recalled to the England squad for Friday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly against Spain, the FA announced on Sunday. Arsenal midfielder Wilshere, 24, had been left out of the two previous squads but his form has improved during a loan spell at Bournemouth where he has been enjoying more regular playing time. Tottenham striker Kane has recovered from an ankle injury that kept him out of last month's 2018 qualifiers against Slovenia and Malta. "Jack Wilshere is a player that we feel has a lot of class and is now starting to get more 90 minutes under his belt," England caretaker manager Gareth Southgate told the Football Association website (www.thefa.com). "It's good to bring him back into the squad."
Manchester United defenders Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw are not in the 25-man squad after both being declared unfit for United's 3-1 win at Swansea on Sunday.
Midfielder Dele Alli also misses out after twisting his knee during training on Saturday. His Spurs team mate Kyle Walker faces a fitness test with England's medical staff after going off injured in the second half of Sunday's 1-1 draw against Arsenal. Burnley's Michael Keane retains his place in the squad after getting his first call-up as injury cover for last month's games. Fullback Nathaniel Clyne and midfielders Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling also return after recovering from injuries. England's Group F game against Scotland at Wembley Stadium has been beset by a row over whether their players can wear armbands featuring poppies to mark Armistice Day. The two countries' football associations have said they will defy a ban on wearing the armbands which was imposed by FIFA and which prompted British Prime Minister Theresa May to say the world governing body's stance was "utterly outrageous". England, who lead Group F, meet Spain in a friendly on Nov. 15, also at Wembley.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino, loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley);
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Michael Keane (Burnley), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur);
Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (AFC Bournemouth, loan from Arsenal), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace);
Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).
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