Harry Kane doubles down on criticism of England drop-outs as he insists playing for Three Lions is ‘really really special’

Harry Kane has doubled down on his fiery warning to England’s drop-outs ahead of Sunday’s clash versus Ireland.

The England captain caused a storm on Wednesday when appeared to criticise England’s raft of drop-outs for putting club before country ahead of Thursday’s clash versus Greece.

When asked about his comments on Saturday, Kane showed no hint of back-tracking, saying: ‘I think I gave my opinion on the matter. I think I probably didn’t expect it to get as much coverage as it did.

‘But it was my opinion. The November camp has always been a difficult camp. Even when you look at other years, there’s been players who have pulled out.

‘And it’s a tough stage of season, you’re carrying injuries, you’re in the heart of a lot of games.

‘So it was just my opinion that England is really important. After a major championship like in the summer, sometimes these September, October, November camps get forgotten a little bit, in terms of how important they are.

Kane insists ‘it was just a reminder that playing for England is really really special’

Lee Carsley’s side has been blighted by dropouts with Ezri Konsa’s exit through injury making it 10 players leaving the camp

‘If we win tomorrow it sets us up really well for the year ahead to the World Cup. These are the camps as well where you build that culture and togetherness that lead you into a World Cup.

‘So it was just a reminder that playing for England is really really special.’

The culture of togetherness so brilliantly cultivated by Gareth Southgate was arguably the former head coach’s most significant achievement during his eight-year tenure.

Players knew skipping squads may have consequences under Southgate, so much so that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw and Jude Bellingham were among the players who even reported for duty while injured.

Asked whether there was a fragility to that culture, Kane answered: ‘I think so. It takes a long time to build, and maybe not so long to lose if you’re not careful.

‘But I think we’re well aware of that, the experienced players.’