Southgate provides Harry Kane injury update after he goes down in England win

Gareth Southgate has played down any concerns over Harry Kane's fitness after the England captain appeared to be in pain following a heavy tackle during his side's win over Iran.

Kane stayed down clutching his ankle after Morteza Pouraliganji brought him down from behind five minutes into the second-half. But the Three Lions skipper continued for 25 more minutes before being replaced by Callum Wilson.

While some were concerned that Kane was taken off as a result of his injury, Southgate insisted it played no part in his decision to substitute him. Instead, he confirmed Kane was OK, news that will be a relief ahead of England's next game against the United States on Friday.

"I think Harry's fine. It looked like a bad tackle but he carried on in the game. We took him off because we felt it was a moment in the game we could do that," the England boss said in his post-match press conference.

"Really pleased with our attacking play. We know that Iran are usually very difficult to score goals against, so it's a credit to our players, the way their movement, the quality of our passes, the quality of our finishing.

"I didn't like the end of the game. To concede two goals the way we did isn't the level we need. So we're going to have to be better than the level we were today in certain aspects of our game against the USA.

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"Because they're going to be coming for us full throttle and we're going to have to reset. I don't like games that drift as this one did. I understand the focus drifting a little but that won't be enough for us to progress in the tournament. So we've still got a lot to do to qualify."

Kane himself delivered an upbeat message following England's dominant win, which puts them at the top of Group B. The Three Lions skipper also hailed Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.

"Obviously a really good start to the World Cup campaign. Full credit to the boys, you know it's never easy getting off to a winning start in a major tournament," Kane said in a video message posted on Twitter.

"To score six goals shows we're in a really good place. Still, a lot of work to do, of course, we know that. Overall, really pleasing. Congrats to Jude for his first Englan goal, no better place to do it.

"Bukayo on fire with two great finishes so everyone out there today done their country proud and we move on to the next one now. So thanks for your support back home. Let's keep it going for the next game against the USA."

England will take on the United States in their second game in Group B on Friday night at the Al Bayt Stadium. Kane will certainly start up-front for England if his fit as Southgate indicated.

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