Major England injuries ahead of a World Cup

Harry Kane has become the latest England player to suffer an injury scare ahead of a World Cup.

With the start of Russia 2018 just three months away, Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of the ankle problem Kane suffered during Tottenham’s 4-1 win at Bournemouth on Sunday.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at other important England players who have faced fitness battles in the build up to World Cups.

Ashley Cole (2010)

Wayne Rooney (2006)

Michael Owen (2006)

David Beckham (2002)

Beckham’s broken foot was possibly the biggest sports injury story this country has ever had. It introduced many to the metatarsal bones, one of which the England captain fractured in a challenge with Aldo Duscher during a Manchester United Champions League game against Deportivo La Coruna. Newspapers printed life-sized cut-outs of the midfielder’s foot and encouraged readers to pray for his recovery, while the player slept in oxygen tents and wore a state-of-the-art surgical boot. Less than two months after the injury, he started England’s World Cup opener against Sweden and played all five games under Sven-Goran Eriksson, including their quarter-final defeat to Brazil.

Steven Gerrard and Gary Neville (2002)

Bryan Robson (1986 and 1990)

Kevin Keegan (1982)

England’s failure to qualify for the two previous World Cups meant Keegan had to wait until the 1982 tournament in Spain for a chance to play on football’s biggest stage. The opportunity was ruined by a chronic back problem. He was named in the squad and retained the captain’s armband but was restricted to just 26 minutes on the pitch. Having been absent for his country’s first four matches, Keegan, aged 31, came on as a second-half substitute against the hosts, a game England needed to win by two goals to progress. They drew 0-0 and Keegan’s World Cup experience was over almost before it had begun.

Jimmy Greaves (1966)