Focus on England's Alli in Italy encounter

ENGLAND approaches today’s friendly against Italy grappling with a familiar set of recurring problems that seem to resurface whenever major tournaments approach.

An injury to Harry Kane will deny it its most potent weapon at Wembley with concerns over the Tottenham Hotspur striker’s availability for the World Cup mirroring storylines from other build-ups when former linchpins Bryan Robson, David Beckham, and Wayne Rooney all struggled for fitness.

Kane is expected to return to action next month and, if the 24-year-old then stays fit, will be one of only a handful of players guaranteed a start in England’s World Cup opener against Tunisia in June, as manager Gareth Southgate struggles with issues throughout the team.

Kane’s club mate Dele Alli has long seemed a shoo-in as support striker but he has struggled to live up to the praise from Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, who this month referred to him as the best 21-year-old in the world.

Alli again looked ineffectual when he came on as a substitute in England’s 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday and goalscorer Jesse Lingard made a strong case for inclusion in Southgate’s World Cup starting line-up.

Alli’s chances may be further restricted if England goes into the tournament with the 3-5-2 formation employed in Amsterdam as Southgate might opt for Raheem Sterling alongside Kane on the back of the 23-year-old’s fine club season with Manchester City.

With time running out, Alli has the chance to make his case against Italy when Southgate is expected to name him up front with Jamie Vardy, whose pace and prolific goal-scoring record make him a certainty for the squad.

The same can no longer be said about Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere who, although long touted as the answer to England’s problems in midfield, is once again absent injured and appears to be too brittle for a major tournament.

That leaves Southgate short of creativity with Liverpool’s Adam Lallana struggling for games and fitness after impressing for England last season.