England squad: Harry Kane included for Nations League finals despite Tottenham striker yet to return from injury

Harry Kane has been included in England’s preliminary squad for the Uefa Nations League finals, despite the national team captain yet to return from his latest ankle injury.

The Tottenham striker has not played since suffering a recurrence of his troublesome ankle injury on 9 April in the 1-0 Champions League victory over Manchester City, but the 25-year-old has not given up hope of featuring for his club in next weekend’s final against Liverpool.

As a result, Southgate has named his captain in the preliminary 27-man squad in the hope that Kane will come through the Madrid final and be fit enough to feature in England’s two matches against the Netherlands and, depending on if England reach the final or third-place play-off, either Switzerland or Portugal.

Southgate also named Harry Winks alongside his Spurs teammate despite the midfielder undergoing hip surgery last month, in the hope that he will prove his fitness to feature in Portugal.

"We're really looking forward to the opportunity to finish the summer off,” Southgate said after naming his side. “A great chance to build on the last 12 months.

"For the likes of Harry Winks, he deserves to named in the initial squad. It is a case that he hasn't played for a couple of months so we will have to see.

"(Kane) is one of the unknowns. He's working to be fit for the (Champions League) final. We are keeping that door open. We are going to look post-Champions League final. There is the physical aspect and emotional aspect of that final that we have to look at.”

Harry Kanehas not played since 9 April (AP)

Southgate had initially planned to include Chelsea pair Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in his squad, but a ruptured Achilles tendon has ended the former’s season while the latter is suspected to have suffered the same injury in the club’s end-of-season friendly against New England Revolution on Wednesday night.

"I don't think we have had a time where we haven't had a lot of pull outs but we have a really strong squad,” added Southgate. “We will know more by that date [May 27] but we can make changes after that date.

“(It’s) a little bit of a larger squad than usual. We've got a lot of unknowns. Hudson-Odoi & Loftus-Cheek would definitely be in this squad."

One other surprise inclusion in the squad is Southampton’s Nathan Redmond, who takes the place of the injured Hudson-Odoi, while his club colleague James Ward-Prowse replaces Loftus-Cheek.

"I think he finished the season really well. I think the new manager has had a positive effect: a lot of pace, playing the high press and has started to score more regularly,” Southgate said of Redmond’s inclusion.

"It is a really good opportunity for Nathan."

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has not been selected despite his impressive season (Getty)

Notable absentees include Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, but Southgate kept faith with Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Tripper as his three right-back options and both Danny Rose and Ben Chilwell on the left flank, given that Fabian Delph is able to cover the position if needed.

Asked if choosing his full-backs was a tough choice, Southgate left little to doubt. "No. Ben Chilwell and Danny Rose have been excellent for us so they are ahead in the pecking order. But it gives us a lot of good options."

England squad:

Jack Butland, Tom Heaton, Jordan Pickford, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Chilwell, Joe Gomez, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Ross Barkley, Dele Alli, Fabian Delph, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse, Harry Winks, Harry Kane, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Nathan Redmond, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson.

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