Kane ready for Latvia clash as England seek World Cup qualification

Harry Kane is prepared to play for England in their bid to secure World Cup qualification by defeating Latvia on Tuesday.

The England skipper sat out the 3-0 friendly victory against Wales on Thursday due to an ankle injury picked up during a recent match with Bayern Munich.

However, the nations leading scorer with 74 goals has resumed training over the weekend, and head coach Thomas Tuchel anticipates that Kane will lead the line in the qualifier held in Riga.

"Dealing with Harry is straightforward, he is able to participate and in good shape. We made the correct decision. He was excellent in training and set to perform," Tuchel commented to the media on Monday.

"I cannot think of any reason he would be unable to complete the full 90 minutes. It was merely a brief rest for him. He featured in every game prior with Bayern, so there are no barriers."

With Kane back in action, Tuchel has little cause for concern over the absence of Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, who had to exit the camp after an unfortunate collision with a goalpost in an attempt to net against Wales.

"Ollie has departed the setup, regrettably. The discomfort was too much," Tuchel explained.

"He was unable to join our sessions, so he is receiving care from his club and aiming to be fit for the upcoming weekend. The rest of the squad is present."

England, who top Group K, can confirm their spot in the World Cup with a victory against Latvia, leaving them with two fixtures remaining.

They remain unbeaten in their five group outings, keeping a clean sheet each time, which positions them four points clear of Albania in second, with an additional match to play.

Positive progress

England triumphed 3-0 over Latvia at Wembley back in March, during Tuchels second outing as manager.

Yet, their form has advanced considerably since, with a 5-0 demolition of Serbia in September, followed by a dominant opening period that overwhelmed Wales.

After facing scrutiny for the tentative beginning of his tenure, Tuchel now observes indications that England are evolving into a unified side, adept at delivering the forward thinking approach he envisioned upon assuming control in January.

"I sense we are constructing something solid, and heading the correct way. As is typical in football, the next fixture presents the greatest challenge," he remarked.

"We must honour our rivals, acknowledge the context. This is an away fixture in a World Cup qualifying match, and given the outcomes involving Albania and Serbia, qualification is within reach tomorrow. We are eager to achieve it through a victory, adding extra drive."

Tuchel has prioritised fostering a club like environment within the England group, insisting on Premier League calibre of effort in their displays.

The past couple of games have aligned with the ex Chelsea bosses aspirations, and he anticipates a similar performance level versus Latvia.

"The energy and drive are evident. The squad is completely engaged. They approach training with purpose," he stated.

"They do so with enthusiasm. They exhibit high standards. It is palpable. Thus, every member has contributed significantly.

"Our emphasis lies in forming a robust collective, fielding a potent starting eleven, and assembling a side accustomed to combining effectively."