Harry Kane was shocked by Gareth Southgate's decision to leave Jack Grealish out of the England squad for Euro 2024, it has been claimed.
Grealish had been expected to make the cut, despite enduring a difficult season for Manchester City last term.
However, the winger was left out by Southgate - with the likes of Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden all going to the tournament in Germany instead.
With England unconvincing throughout most of the competition, despite making the final, many felt Grealish would have been a game-changer.
Harry Kane struggled under Gareth Southgate as England came close to winning Euro 2024 this summer
GETTY
And talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed Kane, along with the rest of the England squad, were left 'shocked' by Southgate's decision to leave Grealish at home.
“I know for a fact what happened in the summer was a shock to the squad of players, shock to the captain Harry Kane, shock to everyone involved, that Jack Grealish was not in the final 26," he said.
Kane wasn't his usual self out in Germany.
After scoring 44 goals from 45 games for Bayern Munich last season, fans expected the 31-year-old to electrify the competition.
Kane scored in matches against Denmark, Slovakia and the Netherlands before England lost 2-1 to Spain in the final.
But there was a sense he was injured throughout the competition, with Southgate keeping faith in the forward regardless.
Southgate is now a figure of England's past, with the 53-year-old walking away from his job as manager following their failure to win Euro 2024.
Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Lee Carsley are believed to be the frontrunners to take over.
But foreign trio Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Joachim Low are all reportedly keen on the job as well.
As for Grealish, the City star has insisted he's eager to bounce back from his England snub.
“When you are on your holidays, every time you turn on the phone or the TV you just see it [the tournament] so it was hard not to see,” Grealish said.
“I’ll be honest, football-wise it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with in terms of my own career.
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Harry Kane was stunned by Gareth Southgate's decision to leave Jack Grealish out of his England squad for Euro 2024
PA
“I was absolutely heartbroken.
"For myself now moving forward, I have to just try and use that as motivation going into this season.”
And the former Aston Villa star insists he's ready to put in the hard work to ensure he rediscovers his mojo, having often been forced to play second fiddle to Jeremy Doku for City last year.
“It’s down to me at the end of the day,” he continued.
Harry Kane was inconsistent for England at Euro 2024 this summer
PA
“I need to train well and prepare well and I know I’ll be at my best.
“I’ll try and have the same mentality I had two years ago. My first season at City I don’t think I performed as well as I could.
"The second [season] I played a lot of games. I wanted to come back stronger.”
