England release Harry Kane from squad

The Tottenham striker was an unused substitute for Friday’s 3-0 defeat of Scotland, having only just returned from a seven-week lay-off with an ankle injury.

The Football Association were thankful for Spurs’ co-operation over Kane, who played 73 minutes in last weekend’s north London derby and headed to St George’s Park less than 24 hours later.

Interim manager Gareth Southgate was prepared to use the striker if required in the World Cup qualifier but goals from Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Gary Cahill rendered that a moot point. He will now head back to Tottenham to continue building his match fitness.

“Harry reported for us last week having not played a full game for some seven weeks but Tottenham were more than happy for him to come with us,” said Southgate.

“It was never really my intention to start him in a game and I think it’s important that he gets a different training programme to what we’re going to follow over the next couple of days.

“I’m really grateful to Tottenham for letting us have him for the qualifier. Once we’d assessed our injury status and the fact we were fine and covered for what we’d do for this game, the sessions that we’re going to do aren’t what Harry needs at this time, having had such a long lay-off.”

England have not called up a replacement for Kane, with Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott all available to fill attacking roles.

The game marks the end of Southgate’s temporary stint in charge of the national side, though he remains firm favourite to win a permanent deal after taking seven points from a possible nine in Group F.

Terry Butcher has added his voice to growing calls for Gareth Southgate to be handed the England job on a full-time basis in the wake of Friday’s 3-0 win over Scotland at Wembley.

Butcher insists there is no need for FA chiefs to wait until after Tuesday night’s friendly against Spain to appoint Southgate, who has held the job on a caretaker basis since the departure of Sam Allardyce in September.

Butcher, who won 77 caps for his country, told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek: “I think he’s the right man - he’s a personable guy and he wants to learn and adapt.

“I think there’s a lot of going into the classroom for Gareth with England, he’ll learn in the job and I think he’ll learn well - he’s got the capacity and the brain power.

“He’ll certainly develop his own coaching prowess at international level - give him the job and give him it now.”

Southgate has consistently expressed his desire to take on the role full-time and indicated he expects the process to begin after the game against Spain.

Despite obvious areas in need of improvement in the three games under his command, the former England Under-21 boss appears to have won over the players and the FA hierarchy.

And Butcher said the governing body could be putting the appointment at risk if they opted to wait for future potential candidates to emerge.

He added: “I read someone saying (they will) perhaps wait until Arsene Wenger makes a decision about his Arsenal future, but I can’t see it being the case.

“It may be (in that eventuality) that Gareth walks away and says, you’ve had your chance, it’s gone.”