LONDON — Tottenham striker Harry Kane was selected in England’s squad on Wednesday for the European Under-21 Championship despite concerns by his club that he is facing burnout after playing 52 games in a breakthrough season.
England U21 coach Gareth Southgate said he will give Kane some additional time off before the striker links up with the squad for the tournament in the Czech Republic from June 17-30.
Kane has scored 30 goals in all competitions for Tottenham, and his form earned him a call-up by England’s senior squad for two matches in March. He scored 79 seconds into his international debut in a 4-0 win over Lithuania.
England is happy for him to drop back down a level, believing Kane would benefit from playing in an international tournament.
"It’s a great stage for him to show people his ability," Southgate said.
However, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has said Kane could miss the start of next season if he played for England U21s. The club is planning to take Kane on a post-season tour that includes games in Malaysia and Sydney.
Some of English soccer’s best young talent, like Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling, were eligible to play for the under-21s but Southgate hasn’t selected them.
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw will miss out because "medically he is not going to fit," according to Southgate. United manager Louis van Gaal had called on England to give Shaw a break after his injury-disrupted season.
