England captain Harry Kane has voiced his unhappiness at the number of players who have withdrawn from the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, a replacement call up himself, became the ninth player to pull out of Lee Carsley’s squad on Wednesday afternoon.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale and Levi Colwill had already taken themselves out of contention after battling various niggles and injuries.

But Kane, who is England’s record goalscorer and has amassed over 100 caps, is not impressed by the attitude of certain individuals towards international football, insisting that a player representing their country should be the highest priority.

“I think England comes before anything. England comes before club,” Kane told ITV Sport. “England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth [Southgate] was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.

“Yeah, it’s a shame this week obviously. 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. I think England comes before anything, any club situation.

“[Gareth] Southgate brought the joy to play for England back. Every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and that’s the most important thing. Gareth was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players.”

Interim manager Lee Carsley, who will oversee the games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland before Thomas Tuchel takes over, stated that his focus remains on the players who have remained with the squad, claiming it’s an opportunity for others to stake their claim for a regular call-up.

“The focus all camp has been on the players that are here. It is important that we make the most of this situation.

“With the amount of players that have pulled out, it gives other players the opportunity to be here. We’re looking forward to the game.”

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