Harry Kane is a surprise absentee for England’s friendly clash with Japan tonight.
The Three Lions captain looked set to return at Wembley on Tuesday evening after being rested for Friday’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay, but misses out with a “minor issue” suffered in training, per the Football Association (FA).
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Kane remains with the squad receiving further assessment, but will play no part against Japan.
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke have all returned to Arsenal for “medical assessments”, while John Stones has also withdrawn.
It is far from ideal for Thomas Tuchel ahead of what is the final England friendly before he names his 26-man squad for the World Cup.
But their departures present opportunities for other players to impress, as Tuchel finalises his plans for next summer.
Marc Guehi - who captains England in Kane’s absence - and Elliot Anderson are among Tuchel's most trusted players who have joined up with the squad and will play after missing Friday’s draw with Uruguay, when an experimental side struggled at Wembley.
Adam Wharton, Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have also dropped out and a revised 27-man squad prepared to face Japan. Jude Bellingham is on the bench despite being expected to miss out altogether.
Jordan Pickford returns in goal and Guehi and Ezri Konsa start in central defence, with Ben White at right-back.
Nico O’Reilly starts at left-back, fresh from his heroics for Manchester City in their Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal last weekend.
With Rice missing, Kobbie Mainoo starts in midfield alongside Anderson. Jordan Henderson has returned to Brentford for treatment on a knock.
Morgan Rogers is poised to start in the No10 role, with Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer out wide and Phil Foden operating as a false nine.
England XI: Pickford, White, Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly, Anderson, Mainoo, Palmer, Rogers, Gordon, Foden
Out: Bellingham, Rice, Saka, Madueke, Calvert-Lewin, Tomori, Ramsdale, Wharton, Kane, J Henderson
Time and date: 7.45pm BST on Tuesday March 31, 2026
Venue: Wembley Stadium
How to watch: ITV1 and ITVX
