Tottenham boss Antonio Conte says Harry Kane is “really, really tired” after being substituted in the second half of the Carabao Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest. England captain Kane started the 2-0 defeat 12 days before his country’s World Cup opener against Iran. England manager Gareth Southgate named his World Cup squad on Thursday. “It was a fatigue problem,” said Conte, who stressed Kane would be fine. “It’s just tiredness, but it’s normal because Harry played every game.” Kane made his 21st successive start for Spurs in the EFL Cup third round tie at the City Ground on Wednesday afternoon. He was substituted after 59 minutes, despite Spurs trailing by two goals, with Forest earning the win with strikes from Renan Lodi and Jesse Lingard. Conte said Kane was “really, really tired”, adding: “Yesterday we had a soft training session and at one point he stopped himself to regain energy.” Conte said he was waiting until Wednesday morning before deciding whether or not to start Kane in this match. “Other players maybe could say to me, ‘I’m tired and I don’t want to play and help the team,’” he added. “Someone else could be selfish and think to themselves why in a week they have to play the World Cup. On the contrary, Harry Kane has shown that he is a very good person. “But I repeat, it is normal, what is happening in this period.” England captain Kane, who is just two goals away from equaling Wayne Rooney’s record for the national team, is certain to be named in Southgate’s World Cup squad on Thursday. England face Iran on November 21, before facing the USA and Wales in Group B.
