• Kane asks if players are absent due to ‘tough period’
• Captain fears ‘joy to play for England’ is being lost

Harry Kane has delivered a slapdown to England’s long list of absentees, saying that club should never come before country and suggesting that certain players have used the packed calendar as an excuse to withdraw from Lee Carsley’s final camp in charge.

England’s captain and record goalscorer has never looked to shy away from international duty, even when he has been struggling with injury or fatigue, and he is frustrated that the sense of pride in the shirt seems to have disappeared since the departure of Gareth Southgate in July.