Leading Surgeon Says Harry Kane Is Likely To Miss The Euros

England and Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane stands a great chance of missing Euro 2020, according to a leading orthopaedic surgeon.

The Three Lions skipper had surgery earlier this month in an attempt to repair a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring, an injury sustained during a New Year’s Day loss to Southampton, and it is expected that he will resume training in April.

England manager Gareth Southgate has likely been left sweating over the possibility of taking the Euros on without his chief goal source. And, while the striker has been very positive in the updates he has provided via social media, Jose Mourinho has cast doubt on a potential return this season.

Chris Wilson, a leading surgeon in England, who also works for Championship clubs Swansea and Cardiff City, agrees with Mourinho’s assessment and has said that it could take up to six months before Kane can play again.

“I would expect it to be six months before he could return to action,” Wilson, who has performed this operation 75 times, said via The Independent. “There is a big range of opinions because it is such an uncommon procedure and some surgeons may say quicker. If the repair was good and sound, the first six weeks he will be nursing the repair and doing very little. Six to 12 weeks, providing everything was OK, he will be doing basic strengthening exercises.”

“At three months you would start a normal hamstring rehabilitation that you would do if you got a tear in the middle of the muscle. If I was talking to a top-level footballer I would want to manage their expectations and say I wouldn’t anticipate them being fit and playing normally in a game for six months following the surgery.”

The surgeon has also urged Kane to stay away from playing before the end of the six-month period even if he feels good enough to return as he could cause further damage to the area.

“If it was me I would say aim for getting fit for pre-season training,” he added. “I am aware of Harry Kane’s case they have been saying April or May – I have to say I would be very surprised.”

England remain the betting favourites to win the Euros this year, even in light of the possibility of Kane not playing, and you could find the best bookmakers of your choice if you’re looking to place bets on Euro 2020 action this year by clicking the preceding link. Bet365 are offering 4/1 odds on an outright win for the Three Lions front but you could get a slightly better deal from Betfred at 9/2.

Meanwhile, World Cup winners France are 11/2 to win Euro 2020 with Ladbrokes. The bookies are offering 5/1 on Belgium following their third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup while Holland is 6/1.

Former World Cup champions Germany are 9/1 with Betvictor, who also have the same odds going on Former World Cup and Euro champs Spain.

As for England, their chances of winning the tournament would greatly increase if Kane is healthy by the end of the season. The striker has been able to return from major injuries well ahead of time in the past but there is some real concern over those prospects this time around.