GIVE PREM A BREAK
I felt sorry for England team-mates who toiled while I spent Christmas sipping cocktails on a beach, says Harry Kane
Three Lions' skipper explains where he reckons English football is going wrong
HARRY KANE has urged Premier League chiefs to bring back a winter break to boost England’s dreams of winning trophies.
The Three Lions captain insists players need time off during the season to avoid burnout and be at their best for summer World Cup and Euros tournaments.
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Bayern Munich striker Kane admits he “felt sorry” for Prem stars who had to play over Christmas last year — while he sipped cocktails on a beach.
Ahead of Sunday’s Wembley Nations League clash against the Republic of Ireland, Kane declared: “If we can get some sort of winter break for the Premier League boys it would have a big impact.
“We had it for about two years in the Prem and it went down well with players.
“It’s a shame they don’t get that break now. For a lot of the players it was important, even for a week to get away and recharge so they could finish their season and go into major tournaments.
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"It’s going to be a hard one to change. But it’s a conversation that needs to be had.”
Kane enjoyed a ten-day family holiday during Bayern’s three-week winter break last season but would have played five games in that period at former club Tottenham.
He will get similar time off next month, while Prem stars play four times.
Kane’s plea comes after Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri threatened strike action over football’s “crazy” calendar — before an ACL injury ended his season.
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Players’ unions have also launched legal action against Fifa over next summer’s £600million 32-team Club World Cup in America which will involve City, Chelsea and Bayern.
The Prem’s top stars face playing up to 85 GAMES for club and country this season but the PFA want a 60-match limit.
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Kane, 31, benefited from Germany’s winter break last season, ending up with 44 goals in 45 appearances in his debut campaign for Bayern.
He added: “In Germany, I get that winter break so I get a good block off in a tough period.
“I did feel sorry for some of the guys when I was on the beach last year watching them play on Boxing Day and the 29th — and I am there with my cocktail.
“It really helped me last year to recover.
“Being in Germany gives you that luxury. I’ll have that next year as well.”
England’s 68-goal record scorer wins his 103rd cap today after interim boss Lee Carsley dropped him to the bench in favour of Ollie Watkins for Thursday’s 3-0 Nations League win in Greece.
Asked if that was a shock, Kane admitted: “A little bit. It was like, ‘OK’, getting my head around it.
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“But I wasn’t down about it, I wasn’t worried.
“Lee wanted to give Ollie the experience in a tough away game we had to win and I understood his decision.”
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