Mourinho does NOT want Kane to play all three games for England

Jose Mourinho confirms Harry Kane will play in Europa League clash with Dinamo Zagreb… but Spurs boss does NOT want star to play three games in seven days for England and hopes star can reach a compromise with Gareth Southgate

• Jose Mourinho has confirmed Harry Kane will play against Zagreb on Thursday
• Spurs hold a two-goal lead over their Europa League rivals ahead of their clash
• However, Mourinho does not want his star to play all three games for England 
• The Three Lions face San Marino, Poland and Albania in World Cup qualifiers 

Jose Mourinho does not want Harry Kane to play three World Cup qualifiers in seven days starting next week and hopes the England captain can strike a compromise with Gareth Southgate.

Kane, who has been playing through niggling injuries, will be involved for Tottenham at Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League on Thursday and at Aston Villa on Sunday before reporting for international duty on Monday.

England have home games against San Marino and Poland either side of a trip to Albania to launch their qualifying campaign.

Jose Mourinho does not want Harry Kane to play three games in seven days for England

The Spurs star is expected to be called up for games against San Marino, Albania and Poland

‘I have no control,’ said Mourinho. ‘If I could choose, I would love them all to go because I love my players to be involved in the national teams. It’s a question of pride for them and a plus for the club.

‘Of course if we could choose we wouldn’t like the players to play three matches, but it’s in the hands of the international managers.

‘I cannot do Gareth’s work. He doesn’t make comments about my selection or give opinion about should I play or rest this England player or the other.

‘He never makes any comment so I don’t feel very comfortable doing that in this moment. He does what he wants, what he thinks is best for the team. I believe he has a good relationship with Harry, good communication.

But Mourinho says he does not want his star man to feature in all three games next week

‘I hope that between them and without me in the middle they can find some compromise to protect the players a little bit.’

Kane missed 10 days after picking up ankle injuries against Liverpool in January. He was a doubt going into the game against Crystal Palace, earlier this month, and was seen icing a knee after he was replaced in the first leg of the Europa League last-16 tie against Dinamo, last week.

Tottenham won 2-0 in Europe and Mourinho has confirmed his top scorer will be involved in the second leg.

Mourinho said he has ‘no control’ over Gareth Southgate’s team selection for the games 

Kane missed 10 days earlier this year after picking up ankle injuries against Liverpool

‘He plays tomorrow,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘It is open and it is a very important game. I don’t feel it’s game over. We don’t go there to defend a lead, we go there to win a game. If we qualify with a defeat in this game, I will not be happy.’

Giovani Lo Celso is back in the squad after nearly three months out with a hamstring injury.

Son Heung-min is out of the trip to Croatia after suffering a hamstring injury against Arsenal on Sunday.

Mourinho also confirmed that Son Heung-min will miss Thursday’s trip to Croatia

Son’s injury is not thought to be too bad but it could prevent him from joining South Korea for a friendly against Japan next week.

‘If a player is injured and cannot play, a friendly or an official game, it doesn’t matter the match it is,’ said Mourinho.

‘So if we arrived next week and Sonny is injured and we can prove that to the South Korean Football Association, what’s he going to do there? Nothing. So if a player cannot play for the club, he cannot play for the country.’ 

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