Gareth Southgate admitted England have contingency plans in place if Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford are not fit for the start of Euro 2020.
However, with the European Championships just 100 days away as of Wednesday morning, the Three Lions boss admitted it would be a blow to start the tournament without two of their best players.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Kane was originally ruled out until April with a torn hamstring, but has made miraculous progress since going under the knife last month and appears well ahead of schedule.
The situation is perhaps a tad murkier for Rashford, who was initially ruled out for the season, but could also make an earlier return than anticipated.
While both men will be undoubtedly integral to England’s chances this summer, rushing players back in time for major tournaments has seldom served the country well.
And if neither player is considered match fit, Southgate revealed he and his coaching team have scoured the Premier League to find suitable alternatives.
“You have to be ready for whatever eventuality,” Southgate told talkSPORT’s Nigel Adderley.
“So I think we have got forwards in the league who have been scoring goals, we’ve got wide players who have been scoring goals.
“So we’ve got really good competition for places but, clearly, we would want to be going to the Euro’s with our best players.
“And there is no doubt Kane and Rashford would be in that category.”
The former Middlesbrough boss was speaking live from Amsterdam at the draw for the 2020-21 Nations League tournament, where England were paired with Belgium, Denmark and Iceland.
Perhaps the most pertinent issue for the 49-year-old will be the goalkeeping situation, with regular No.1 Jordan Pickford enduring a somewhat erratic period of form.
However, Southgate admitted the Everton shot-stopper has earned his place between the sticks for his consistency during the start of his tenure with the national team.
He added: “He’s played exceptionally well for us for the last three years and had some critical moments in us achieving some big wins.
“So I understand the question and he know there have probably been a couple of goals of late he would want to do better with.
“And as you rightly say, the spotlight when you have England international attached to your name is always greater – on and off the pitch.
“But he knows that and he is more than capable of coping with that.”
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