Injured Kane to miss Wales friendly – who is his long-term back-up?

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England captain Harry Kane will miss Thursday’s friendly against Wales with a minor injury.

The 32-year-old missed training after taking a kick to his ankle during Bayern Munich’s 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

England hope their record goalscorer will be fit to face Latvia in a World Cup qualifier next Tuesday.

Manager Thomas Tuchel said: “Harry will miss the game, he got a kick in his last match and it is too painful to kick the ball and too risky for him.

“We give him the chance for it calm down and we are convinced he will be ready for Latvia.”

Tuchel confirmed that one of Jordan Henderson, John Stones or Declan Rice will be captain at Wembley in Kane’s absence.

England have not played Wales since a 3-0 win at the World Cup in 2022 and Tuchel is expecting a tough test.

“Hopefully it will be emotional and loud and have the character of a derby,” Tuchel said.

“I can imagine what Craig Bellamy tells his players, I think they want to make the most out of their role as an underdog.

Who could replace Kane?

With Thursday night’s game a friendly and World Cup qualification looking likely, Kane’s injury is not a major issue for Tuchel.

But England’s reliance on Kane is obvious. The captain has scored a record 74 goals in his 109 caps, with the rest of the current squad scoring 53 between them.

Kane has scored 26.4% of all England goals since his debut in 2015, with Raheem Sterling – last capped during the 2022 World Cup – the only other player to score 20 goals in that time.

In Tuchel’s squad the most obvious candidate to step up on Thursday is Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who regularly replaced Kane from the bench during last summer’s Euros, memorably scoring the winner against the Netherlands in the semi-finals.

Watkins has scored five goals for England in 19 caps but has only scored once for Villa this season.

Marcus Rashford is another option. The Manchester United forward is on loan at Barcelona and prefers to play from the left – but has played plenty of matches in the middle.

He has 18 goals for England – the most after Kane in the current squad.

Anthony Gordon has played in a central role for Newcastle and starred in that position for the England Under-21s when they won the Euros in 2023, but he has just one goal in 14 caps.

Outside of Tuchel’s current squad, Ivan Toney played against Senegal in June and is available but playing in Saudi Arabia, while Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke is injured and has only won three caps.

Chelsea signed Liam Delap this summer after an impressive season with Ipswich, but the 22-year-old is out with a hamstring injury and is yet to be called up to the senior squad.

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We are not Wembley tourists – Wales boss Bellamy

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International friendly: England v Wales

Venue: Wembley Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Manager Craig Bellamy insists Wales will not be “tourists” when they face England in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday.

Wales take on Thomas Tuchel’s side off the back of a disappointing friendly defeat by Canada in September, yet still have a good chance of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup in North America.

Wales sit third in qualifying Group J and face a pivotal game against Belgium in Cardiff on Monday, 13 September.

“We are here tomorrow to come and play our brand of football in difficult circumstances, in an incredible place like Wembley,” said Bellamy.

    • 7 minutes ago

England, under German boss Tuchel, are widely expected to qualify for next summer’s World Cup.

They sit top of Group K with their latest victory being a 5-0 hammering of Serbia in Belgrade.

The chance to come up against the former Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund boss is one that Bellamy relishes.

“I honestly believe if you play this England team and you defend deep you’ll die a slow death and I’m not into that,” he said.

“I’m like ‘please put me up against the wall and end it now’.

“Thomas is a top manager. It’s been really nice looking at a lot of England’s games under him, but also I watched a lot of games at Dortmund as well.

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Bellamy has been equally glowing in his praise about the England captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane.

But the Bayern Munich striker misses the match due to an ankle problem.

A chance to make history

Wales have not won against England at Wembley since 1977 when a Leighton James penalty sealed a famous 1-0 win.

The last encounter between the two nations saw England victorious with a 3-0 win at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

Bellamy says he has not focused on the chance to make history but recognises the pride at stake in the fixture.

“I haven’t looked at it that way [but I’m] beyond proud,” he added.

“And of course when that anthem goes and you’re like, ‘this is so good’.

“Let’s be the best versions, but most importantly enjoy it and for myself to enjoy it.

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Related topics

  • Wales Men’s Football Team
  • Football

We are not Wembley tourists – Wales boss Bellamy

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

  • 1 Comments

International friendly: England v Wales

Venue: Wembley Date: Thursday, 9 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Manager Craig Bellamy insists Wales will not be “tourists” when they face England in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday.

Wales take on Thomas Tuchel’s side off the back of a disappointing friendly defeat by Canada in September, yet still have a good chance of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup in North America.

Wales sit third in qualifying Group J and face a pivotal game against Belgium in Cardiff on Monday, 13 September.

“We are here tomorrow to come and play our brand of football in difficult circumstances, in an incredible place like Wembley,” said Bellamy.

    • 7 minutes ago

England, under German boss Tuchel, are widely expected to qualify for next summer’s World Cup.

They sit top of Group K with their latest victory being a 5-0 hammering of Serbia in Belgrade.

The chance to come up against the former Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund boss is one that Bellamy relishes.

“I honestly believe if you play this England team and you defend deep you’ll die a slow death and I’m not into that,” he said.

“I’m like ‘please put me up against the wall and end it now’.

“Thomas is a top manager. It’s been really nice looking at a lot of England’s games under him, but also I watched a lot of games at Dortmund as well.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Bellamy has been equally glowing in his praise about the England captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane.

But the Bayern Munich striker misses the match due to an ankle problem.

A chance to make history

Wales have not won against England at Wembley since 1977 when a Leighton James penalty sealed a famous 1-0 win.

The last encounter between the two nations saw England victorious with a 3-0 win at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

Bellamy says he has not focused on the chance to make history but recognises the pride at stake in the fixture.

“I haven’t looked at it that way [but I’m] beyond proud,” he added.

“And of course when that anthem goes and you’re like, ‘this is so good’.

“Let’s be the best versions, but most importantly enjoy it and for myself to enjoy it.

What information do we collect from this quiz?

Related topics

  • Wales Men’s Football Team
  • Football

Big Brother star George breaks silence after show axe over ‘unacceptable behaviour’

George was removed from the Big Brother house after using ‘unacceptable language’ after repeated warnings – with insiders saying the comments won’t be aired

Big Brother contestant George Gilbert has broken his silence since being removed from the house. ITV made the decision to pull him out after he used “unacceptable language”.

Essex-based George has been a controversial figure on the show, as he regularly clashed with other contestants over his political opinions, which included harsher crackdowns on the illegal migration of asylum seekers. He also offended several of his housemates with his some of his behaviour, such as doing a homophobic impression of another contestant that earned him a formal warning from Big Brother.

However, his time on the show has come to an end, after he allegedly made an anti-semitic comment in unaired footage. George has since spoken out about his removal from Big Brother.

“As a flag bearer of freedom of speech, I never hesitate to discuss and question any topic regardless of how contentious it may be,” the 23-year-old said.

“Sadly, the boundaries of what is deemed offensive are subjective and I evidently went too far this time by crossing their line one too many times. It is a shame that specific debate could not be had and that it has had to end like this. Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me.”

George has been caught up in controversy since he entered the Big Brother house on 30 September. Within minutes of his arrival, he seemed to fat-shame fellow housemate Cameron Kinch by telling him not to eat a biscuit.

He then spent several episodes bringing up his views on immigration with the other contestants, angering several by suggesting asylum seekers are treated better than British citizens and repeatedly calling the migrants “illegal”.

He caused contestant Sam Ashby to break down in tears after he did a homophobic impression of their hand movements. George was given a formal warning after this and apologised to Sam, but later nominated them for eviction because he felt he had to watch what he said and “walk on eggshells” around them.

The following day, George also upset Derry girl Jenny Baird, by interrupting her and calling her “love” during an argument about addiction.

He continued to spark fury among fans by saying all the women in the house “look and think the same”. His comments about Pakistan Independence Day celebrations in the UK led housemate another biracial housemate to say they’d “never had my Britishness called into question” like that before.

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Big Brother has shown all of this behaviour, and an incident where Caroline Monk misgendered trans housemate Zelah Glasson. But producers felt the comment which led to George’s removal was too severe to air.

In a statement, they said: “Following repeated use of unacceptable language and behaviour, George has been removed from the Big Brother House with immediate effect and will no longer participate in the programme.” George’s removal will feature in tonight’s (9 October) episode.

Copy Claudia Winkleman with these Traitors-inspired fashion finds from the high street

The popular BBC show returns tonight with a celebrity spin-off and we can’t wait to see what host Claudia wears

With The Traitors returning to our screens with a celebrity edition tonight (October 8), Claudia Winkleman steps back into the dramatic Scottish Highlands delivering plenty of inspo-worthy outerwear moments. Claudia’s daring silhouettes and bold outer layers had everyone talking last season, and we’ve scoured the high street for some faithful picks to replicate her iconic look on a budget.

As well as cosy oversized knitwear and knee high boots, another staple of Claudia’s Traitor’s wardrobe is her choice of coats and jackets, which must stand up to the climes of the Scottish Highlands. Cape coats have previously proven popular with the eyeliner-loving presenter, with their silhouette bringing more drama than a night at the round table.

Tailored and timeless, the cape coat is perfect for layering over smart and casual outfits alike, instantly elevating a look without trying too hard. The best part? Fashion fans don’t have to spend designer prices to get the look, with brands like Nobody’s Child and River Island all offering a twist on the trend for 2025.

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We’ve also hunted down some kilts, blazers and boots perfect for recreating Claudia’s outfits, with selections from M&S, Next and Boden. Here are my top picks.

River Island Cream Scarf Cape – £52

When you see this River Island number, it’s easy to see why the cape trend is having a moment again. Elegant and endlessly versatile, this cream cape instantly elevates any outfit. I especially love the scarf detail which sets it apart from some of the other designs on the market.

The cape comes in two sizes and offers all the polish of a tailored coat with the ease of a throw-on knit. It’s the ultimate transitional piece – ideal for crisp morning commutes, cosy weekend strolls, or dressed-up dinners alike. However, Claudia seems to favour darker hues, and this light-coloured option could be prone to marking, which may put off more practical fashion fans.

Monsoon Ciara Cape Coat – £130

For something that taps into that same mysterious, moody aesthetic that’s set to dominate the season, there’s the Monsoon Ciara Cape Coat, which could also prove to be more practical, too.

Falling just past the hips, it’s smart yet slouchy and available in three sizes, offering more flexibility than River Island’s. It’s complete with button fastenings in a brassy golden tone, and is the kind of piece that makes the outfit rather than covers it up. The downside is that there are currently no reviews for the piece, which some customers may prefer in order to make a more considered purchase, especially considering the higher price point of this one.

Boden Josephine Kilt Midi Skirt – £149

Since The Traitors began, there’s been an increase in demand for traditional country wear such as kilts, and Boden has crafted a gorgeous, contemporary take on a kilt that’s endlessly wearable and versatile. The Josephine Kilt Midi Skirt costs £149 and comes in a deep ‘hunter green’ hue, available in two lengths.

Boden recommends wearing it out to dinner with heels, adding: “You can also wear them with knitwear and boots and trainers and T-shirts.”

The skirt has earned a five star rating so far, with one shopper commenting: “Bought my usual 14R and it fits perfectly. The length is perfect too. Not too long for a midi. Well made and worth the money. The green is nice and subtle too.”

M&S Leather Riding Knee High Boots – £115

Every wardrobe, Traitors inspired or not, should feature a classic pair of knee boots. For a timeless pair you’ll turn to time and time again, these leather riding boots from M&S are a great pick.

The knee-high design has a low block heel for comfortable wear, with a zip fastening that’s been praised by fans for making them easier to pull on and off. “Very comfortable and look great. Very good price. Easy to get on and off,” said one, with another adding: “Excellent fit and quality. Good price for leather boots Would recommend.”

For those looking for a way to bring their old skinny jeans back up to date, tuck them into these boots for an equestrian aesthetic. Alternatively, team with dresses and skirts to channel Claudia’s style. They come in sizes 3-8 including half sizes to help shoppers find the perfect fit.

Nobody’s Child Brown Funnel Neck Cape Jacket – £110

Nobody’s Child is a favourite among celebrities, and this soft to touch and timeless in shape funnel neck cape nods to heritage styling while feeling modern and fresh. Its neutral tone makes it a brilliant layering piece for autumn weekends.

It comes in four sizes ranging from XS to L, with the retailer styling it with a tartan mini skirt and black knee-high boots – a very Traitors-esque look, if we do say so ourselves.

Karen Millen Cape Detail Trench Coat – £88.65

This trench-cape hybrid is a statement piece, with structured lines and a belted waist that echoes Claudia’s strong silhouettes. Originally £149, it’s now down to £104.30 in the sale, but a limited-time promo code COAT15 will see the price drop even further at the checkout, taking it to £88.66.

Unlike some of the other options in this list, Karen Millen’s coat is crafted from cotton for breathable comfort. What’s more is the versatile piece transitions from city commutes to countryside walks with ease.

Next Multi Checked Heritage Brushed Blazer – £87

Finally, it wouldn’t be Claudia’s wardrobe without some heritage checks, and this Next blazer does a wonderful job at emulating her Traitors ensembles. Made with a touch of wool, the brushed fabric features a dark multi-check print with classic features like a notched lapel and patch pockets.

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Zoe Ball reveals how Prince William helped get her process the death of her mother

Former BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball has revealed the ‘beautiful’ gesture Prince William made after the death of her mum Julia last year

Zoe Ball has revealed the touching gestures Prince William made that “meant the world” to her both during her mother’s illness and after her death.

The presenter had to step back from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show when her mother, Julia, died in April 2024, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. But on her podcast, Zoe revealed that Prince William wrote her two “beautiful” letters despite dealing with both his father’s cancer diagnosis and his wife’s.

“Prince William wrote to me when my mum was poorly,” Zoe said. “He wrote the most beautiful letter and he wrote to me again after we lost mum. There was a really amazing moment when mum was really, really poorly, and I went up to see her. My brother was there. I said, ‘Mum, we’ve had a letter.’

“I read her Prince William’s letter. And at the time he was going through his own difficulties with both his father and his lovely wife going through their cancer journey. And I thought it was so kind of him to take the time to write. And it meant the world to her. She loved that letter.”

Zoe added that she was reminded of the letters after watching Prince William’s interview with Eugene Levy on Apple TV. The prince appeared on Eugene’s show The Reluctant Traveller and spoke candidly about his hopes for himself and his family, as well as his plans for when he is the king.

Back in March 2024, Zoe revealed that her mother had pancreatic cancer. During this time, the presenter was occasionally absent from BBC Radio 2 while Gabby Roslin filled in.

This was so Zoe could spend time with her mother, who was being transferred to hospice car, and Zoe told listeners how life was “pretty tough at the moment for the family”.

Shortly afterwards, Zoe shared the news of her mother’s death on Instagram. In the caption of a post, she wrote: “Sleep tight dear Mama.

“Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy. And how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.

“We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other. Your grace & your smile that lit up every room you were in, will light the stars to guide us.”

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Zoe’s son Woody, who she shares with Normon Cook (aka Fatboy Slim), also shared a tribute to his grandmother: “Today I say goodbye to Granny J, thank you for being a wonderful woman.

“The only person who always sent me a valentines card. I know you’re with Rick [Peckham, her late husband] now, give him a hug from me. I know he said once when you were panicking in a helicopter over the Jungle ‘If you get lost, follow the river!’ You’ll find him at the end.”