England: Lee Carsley responds as Harry Kane criticises teammates for dropping out of Nations League squad | OneFootball

Interim Three Lions boss has seen nine players drop out of squad since Monday

England interim head coach Lee Carsley has attempted to play down Harry Kane's criticism of the squad's long list of absentees for this month's internationals, repeatedly insisting that he is only focused on the players who have reported for duty.

In a slapdown of some of his international teammates, England's captain and record goalscorer said the national team should come before "anything" and suggested some players were using the packed calendar as an excuse to withdraw from Carsley's final camp in charge, threatening the culture built under Gareth Southgate.

Nine players have withdrawn from the squad since Monday, including Chelsea pair Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill and Manchester City's Phil Foden, who completed 90 minutes for their clubs at the weekend.

"I think England comes before anything. England comes before club," Kane, who has always made himself available for England, told ITV Sport.

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

"I think it's a tough period of the season, maybe that's been taken advantage of a little bit. I don't really like it if I'm totally honest."

Speaking in Athens ahead of England's penultimate Nations League group game against Greece, Carsley tried to shift the focus on to the players who are available.

Facing a string of questions about Kane's remarks, the interim boss insisted the culture created under Southgate was not at risk; said no other players had raised the pull-outs with him; insisted he did not find the withdrawals personally disrespectful; and said England had no issue with clubs.

"The focus all camp has been on the players that are here," Carsley said. "It's important that we make the most of the situation. With the amount of players that have pulled out, it gives other players an opportunity to be here. The focus has been purely on the players that are here.

"It's [Harry's] opinion. I can only deal with what's in front of us. November is a challenging window, in the past we've had eight or nine call-offs.

"I know the Under-21s and Under-20s have had a lot of players pull out as well, so I think it's definitely that period of the season. I think fatigue and small injuries have played a part in it. It's a brilliant opportunity for other players on the outside of the squad. Now it's their chance."

Asked if there was a danger of a club versus country culture returning, Carsley said: "Definitely not.

"The culture and environment that Gareth, Steve and the rest of the staff created has made it a really positive environment and the rest of the staff that are here fully deserve to be here and are ready for the game tomorrow.

"We've got a really good relationship with all the clubs, especially the medical departments so we're totally happy with where we are," Carsley added.

"The players we had doubts about at the squad announcement, that's why we went with a bigger squad. They were assessed and sent back, so there's no problem our way.

"No [other players have spoken to me about it], definitely not. Like I said, the players that're here are massively proud of being here, highly motivated for tomorrow. We're expecting a tough game, a game we have to win, so our focus has been fully on tomorrow."

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Palmer, Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale and Colwill all withdrew from Carsley's squad on Monday, while Jarrad Branthwaite, who was one of the replacements called-up, has also since pulled out.

Alexander-Arnold, Rice and Saka were all forced off for their clubs at the weekend with presumed injuries, while Ramsdale reportedly fractured a finger during Southampton's defeat to Wolves.

Grealish has not featured in any of Manchester City's last seven games and Branthwaite is thought to have played for Everton against West Ham with a knock on Saturday.

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