Gareth Southgate has admitted he is concerned Jordan Henderson will run out of time to get match fit for the Euros.
Liverpool captain Henderson underwent groin surgery last month and is “very optimistic” he will be fit in time for this summer’s tournament.
Henderson is a key member of the England squad and will be a major worry for Three Lions boss Southgate because the midfielder is the most experienced senior player.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has stressed Henderson will be back before the end of the campaign but the bigger worry is getting match sharpness and fitness in big games.
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Southgate has already seen the likes of Jordan Pickford, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford suffer with injuries this season and they will also be a concern ahead of the summer.
Southgate said: “In terms of promises, we can only say that Hendo himself is very optimistic about how the operation went and the prognosis that the specialist his given him as to what is possible.
“But of course we are conscious that with any injury of that nature, there is a guide and a time defined, but that anything can happen along the way. We know it is going to be close to the end of the season, we will just have to see how it goes.
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“He will give himself every chance of being available. And of course we also know he is likely to be a bit short of match minutes in high level games.
“There are a lot of things to take into consideration but at the moment that is a decision that is a few weeks away.”
Meanwhile, Southgate has backed “incredible” Harry Kane to break England’s goal scoring records.
England boss Southgate revealed Kane was even “hovering around” during half time against San Marino trying to get on the pitch to get his goal tally up.
Tottenham striker Kane is sixth in England’s list of top scorers with 32 goals, 21 behind former England captain Wayne Rooney who is No1.
Kane, 27, is set to return to England’s starting line-up against Albania and Poland in their next two World Cup qualifiers and will be on the goal trail having not scored for his country in 2020.
His last goal for England came against Kosovo in November 2019 and will lead Southgate’s men in the next two games having seen Dominic Calvert-Lewin start against San Marino with Ollie Watkins also scoring on his debut,
Southgate said: “I am not worried about the period of time he has gone without a goal. He is an outstanding finisher, incredible. We will create enough chances for him to get those goals.
“Of course, in a game like that he was desperate to get into the game. He was sort of hovering around me at half-time, smiling, but I don’t think even he would have denied Ollie Watkins that moment that he had.
“We had to look at the bigger picture and Harry totally understands that. We also want him to go on and break those records and it is going to be great to having him back for the next games.”
