- Oct 2, 2007
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- 3,882
18 months is a stretch. He finished 2017 incredibly.
I think the injury in March and the subsequent rushed return has hampered him. Only to be expected given how much football he has played, and he generally plays full matches. This is why I think putting him straight back into the team without any real pre-season was a mistake in the opening game. Opponents will obviously target him and try and rough him up but Kane when in good physical condition can better them, but this is a Kane far from a good physical standing. We saw at the WC he was getting a battering from defenders and his influence gradually waned (for me this puts the theory that just playing him into form from the start as flawed). I wouldn't start him at Fulham. I'd back the other players who are far more physically prepared to get the game won, and allow Kane an easy 20-25 minutes or so to get some rhythm.
I certainly wouldn't disagree with you on that. My fear is that so many of the best players are required to play all year around, probably even more so now with the new Nations Cup, that they'll be fcuked by the time they're in their late 20's