sport news Gareth's gamble: Southgate to leave Kane on bench with Sterling to lead England

Gareth's gamble: Southgate to leave talisman Harry Kane on the bench with Raheem Sterling to lead England for 50th cap in Nations League semi-final... but Manchester City star is 'fuming' after PR team blunder Harry Kane is set to start England's Nations League semi-final on the bench England boss Gareth Southgate appears likely to make Raheem Sterling captain The Three Lions face Holland for a place in the final on Sunday against Portugal 

By Sami Mokbel for the Daily Mail

Published: 22:30 BST, 5 June 2019 | Updated: 22:39 BST, 5 June 2019

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Manager Gareth Southgate is set to rest England captain Harry Kane for Thursday's crucial UEFA Nations League semi-final here against Holland.

And the talismanic striker's omission opens the door for Raheem Sterling to captain his country for the first time as he wins his 50th cap.

Sportsmail revealed on Monday how Kane would tell Southgate he is fully fit, despite doubts over his recent ankle ligament injury, which the England boss confirmed on Wednesday night.

Raheem Sterling looks set to captain England on the night where he will win his 50th cap

Raheem Sterling looks set to captain England on the night where he will win his 50th cap

England boss Gareth Southgate is ready to rest stars who were in the Champions League final

England boss Gareth Southgate is ready to rest stars who were in the Champions League final

But Southgate is expected to leave the Tottenham striker - and all the other players who were involved in last Saturday's Champions League final against Liverpool - on the bench for Thursday's game in Guimaraes, despite admitting that his World Cup skipper is ready to play.

It means Manchester City forward Sterling will wear the armband on the night he clocks up a half-century of  international caps. 

But the honour of captaining England was mired in controversy on Wednesday night after Sterling admitted he was 'fuming' to wake to the news his appointment had been revealed via a press release sent out by Purple PR - the public relations firm connected to the 24-year-old's management

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