Grealish available for Albania clash but Mount & Shaw are out

Gareth Southgate

revealed that

Mason Mount

and

Luke Shaw

may still not be available for England’s clash against Albania in the World Cup qualifier; Jack Grealish, however, has returned to training and is at the manager’s disposal for Friday’s clash.

It is going to be England’s last match of the year and a victory will put them within one point of getting qualified for World Cup 2022 from Group I, assuming Poland win in Andorra.

Southgate is already without Marcus Rashford, James Ward-Prowse and Declan Rice due to injury and Emile Smith Rowe is the only replacement that was called up.

Southgate spoke during his media conference on Thursday about the availability of Mount and Shaw and said:

"I've got to check in with our medical staff for our update. The longer it goes, the more unlikely it is.

"Mason has to recover from his dental surgery. Luke didn't pass his [head injury assessment] after the first day and rightly, we have to follow the guidelines with that.

"Jack Grealish has trained and is ready if required."

The tactician was quizzed about the Arsenal youngster settling in the squad after being called up for the first time for his senior club.

"

He has settled really well,"

 he added.

"He obviously knows a couple of his club teammates and Phil [Foden] from the U17s. This is a group that makes new players very welcome so it's not a difficult environment to settle in and his quality has been apparent from the way he has trained.

"We have always worked on the basis that we need a strong squad because you will get injuries. We have depth and we have players who have been waiting for opportunities to play."

Harry Kane

was at the media conference and insisted that the squad need to brush off their disappointing draw with Hungary.

Kane said:

"Whenever you have a disappointing game, or you don't reach the standards you normally reach, it kind of wakes you up a little bit and makes you realise there's still work to do, still more to improve on.

"Three points from that game would have really helped towards securing qualification, so now it's about turning it round and responding to that game. We've had a great week of preparation but it's all about performing when the pressure's on and the team have done that before."

The England captain was pressed about his season so far, having found the back of the net only once in 10 Premier League matches for Tottenham. Manchester City were keen on acquiring the England International’s services but he denied it having any influence on his display.

"

Losing a European final for your country at Wembley will probably stay with me the rest of my career. You never really get over those things, unless we go and win a major tournament. That always stings but I'm pretty used to getting back into things,"

Kane said.

"There was a lot of speculation over the summer, that's the first real time that's happened to me. But that's part and parcel of being a big player, having to deal with those situations, and I think I dealt with it well. Now it's about focusing. There's still a long way to go at club level and we've got these two games to finish off what's been a great calendar year [for England]."

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