Lack of leaders will worry Southgate

GARETH SOUTHGATE’S plans for the showcase Wembley double-header against Germany and Brazil have been thrown into total disarray by a rash of withdrawals. After losing Tottenham trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks, the England manager was faced with further setbacks when Manchester City duo Raheem Sterling (thigh) and Fabian Delph (calf) and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson (thigh) also pulled out with injury yesterday. Southgate has been forced to call up Burnley’s 28-year-old midfielder Jack Cork as a consequence, but the injuries leave him with a seriously weakened side for the two games. The complications do not end there, however. The fact that Tottenham, City and Liverpool have had their players withdrawn has not escaped the attention of Jose Mourinho, who was already concerned by the ‘load’ being put on his Manchester United stars during these international matches. Old Trafford insiders say his anxiety extends beyond England, with Mourinho understood to have been incensed with Belgium for playing Romelu Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini as much as they have this season and France for playing Paul Pogba when he felt the midfielder should have been rested. Southgate must be frustrated by losing so many key players, and not just because the potency of his team will be badly affected by the absence of Kane, Alli and Sterling in attack. Of further concern will be the lack of leaders on the field when Kane and Henderson are his first two choices for captain. Gary Cahill, another option for the armband, is also doubtful.