The England boss will have had no worries at all today over naming Tottenham star Kane as his World Cup captain, because the 29-year-old is injury-free.
Southgate's heart will start to beat that bit faster, though, when he examines Kane's shattered state.
Antonio Conte had promised he would find a way to hand Kane the odd rest in the helter-skelter build-up to the Qatar World Cup.
Instead, Kane has started every Tottenham game this season - the only player to achieve what currently represents an unwanted feat.
That is 21 games in just 71 days, with a likely 22nd match in three days' time in Saturday's final Premier League clash before the World Cup, at home against Leeds. Kane has also played more minutes - 1,847 - than anyone else in the top flight this season.
Spurs crashed out of the Carabao Cup with a limp 2-0 loss to a much-changed Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, with Kane looking leggy at best.
Conte revealed afterwards that Kane pulled up in training on Tuesday due to fatigue, but Spurs' taskmaster boss hailed his prolific striker "a good man" for playing.
This story is from the November 10, 2022 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the November 10, 2022 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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