WORRIED Gareth Southgate fears financial fair play rules could hit his Euros hopes as stars face burnout from extra money-spinning club friendlies.
Tottenham and Newcastle have an end-of-season tour to Australia before the tournament, with James Maddison, Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon set to feature.
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After Saturday’s Brazil friendly, England play Belgium on Tuesday.
But boss Southgate is facing his worst injury crisis and Harry Kane looks set to miss both.
Now amid fears more Premier League teams could also go abroad in May, there is concern other stars will pick up injuries or suffer from fatigue.
Asked about Tottenham and Newcastle’s controversial game in Melbourne on May 22, Southgate said: “It’s going to happen more and more.
“Why? Financial Fair Play means clubs need to generate money.
We’re in a bizarre world where there’s more money in the game than ever before and yet everyone’s scrambling to generate more.
“The normal way of doing that is to play more games, so is that great news for us in terms of preparation? No.”
Kane, Jordan Henderson and Cole Palmer are out on Saturday, while crocked Bukayo Saka returned to Arsenal.
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And Southgate added: “We’ve 40-odd players and a third are unavailable for this game, which is the highest ever.”
Kyle Walker is set to skipper the Three Lions in Kane’s absence.
And either Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney will be given a chance to lead the line.
Kane has missed just one international in the last two and a half years – the 1-0 victory over Australia in October.
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