Harry Kane sends brutal message to Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice

Harry Kane has launched a scathing critique of the England players who recently dropped out of their squad for the November international break.

Interim Three Lions manager Lee Carsley has been hit with an astonishing eight player withdrawals due to injury ahead of their Nations League double-header against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. Manchester City's Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea's Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer, Southampton's Aaron Ramsdale have joined Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice in withdrawing from the squad on Monday.

However, Kane was adamant that such a situation would not have occurred under Gareth Southgate's reign, as he transformed the culture of representing England. The skipper and former Tottenham Hotspur man didn't mince his words, stating that playing for his country is "the most important thing" and expressing concern that this priority has already "started to drift."

With new England manager Thomas Tuchel not set to take the reins until January 1, a host of big names have pulled out with niggles. But Kane, who will lead England in their Nations League match in Greece, told ITV: "I think England comes before anything.

"It comes before club and it is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer. Gareth was hot on that and he wasn't afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players.

"It's a shame this week obviously. Yeah, I think it's a tough period of the season and maybe that's been taken advantage of a little bit.

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"I don't really like it if I'm totally honest. I think as I just said there England comes before anything, any club situation. The joy to play for England - I think Gareth brought that back.

"Every camp, people were excited to come. Every camp people wanted to play for England and, yeah, that's the most important thing."

Arsenal stars Rice and Saka both asked to be substituted in the Gunners' weekend draw with Chelsea. They weren't the only ones unable to complete 90 minutes of their respective teams' matches, with Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold forced off in the first half of his team's victory over Aston Villa.

Morgan Rogers, Jarrod Bowen, Jarrad Branthwaite, Tino Livramento and James Trafford have all been called up to the squad for the upcoming matches. West Ham captain Bowen was part of Southgate's Euro 2024 squad, but Rogers has earned a senior call-up for the first time.

England find themselves second in their Nations League group following a defeat to Greece during the October break. However, they still have a chance to secure automatic promotion to League A if they manage to win both games this month.

Alternatively, finishing second in their group would lead them into a promotion/relegation play-off.

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