England captain Wayne Rooney may start against Scotland amid Harry Kane injury concerns

GARETH SOUTHGATE could turn to Wayne Rooney to lead England's attack against Scotland at Wembley, with concerns about Harry Kane's fitness.

Posted Thursday, November 10, 2016 by Express.co.uk

England boss Gareth Southgate is worried as to whether Kane has enough match fitness to start the World Cup qualifier on Friday night.

Southgate's original plan had been to have Kane up front against the Scots, but the Tottenham striker has had to be careful and not complete all the training sessions with England this week, as agreed with his club, as he has only started one game since returning from two months out with an ankle injury.

England captain Wayne Rooney may start against Scotland amid Harry Kane injury concerns
England captain Wayne Rooney looks on during a training session ahead of Scotland clash

But Kane's lack of match fitness could now open the door again for England captain Rooney to make a comeback in attack - after he was dropped for last month's qualifier in Slovenia.

Southgate has still to decide his final up line for Friday's key game, and has had to carefully regulate training this week, with his players having all had intensive club programmes lately.

England captain Wayne Rooney may start against Scotland amid Harry Kane injury concerns
England striker Harry Kane in action during a training session ahead of clash with Scotland

England captain Wayne Rooney may start against Scotland amid Harry Kane injury concerns
Caretaker England manager Gareth Southgate looks on during a training session ahead of Scotland tie

The England interim coach wants to use Kane if his fitness looks likely to hold up, but Southgate will look to experience if he does not make it, and Rooney as the record goalscorer is his next best option.

Liverpool's Adam Lallana is set to play in a central No10 midfield role against the Scots, with Raheem Sterling and Theo Walcott in wide positions. Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier pencilled in for midfield - but Kane's Tottenham teammate Danny Rose is an injury worry in defence.

The decision as to who leads the attack though is the biggest dilemma facing Southgate - and it could be that Rooney gets a reprieve, after the Manchester United forward had looked set to be confined to the bench once again.