24 March 2023 , 20:17
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Harry Kane will be honoured at Wembley on Sunday after his goalscoring record.
Football Association chiefs wanted Wayne Rooney to make a presentation to Kane to commemorate his achievement of becoming the nation’s all time top scorer. But Rooney, who had set the record which Kane has now broken, cannot fly to London the weekend because his MLS team DC United are in action.
It means they will make the presentation ahead of the Ukraine game in a different way but the Kane-Rooney get-together will happen further down the line. They have a special commemorative trophy lined up for Kane. When he broke his record, Rooney received his special Golden Boot from Sir Bobby Charlton.
It means FA chair Debbie Hewitt will make the presentation ahead of the Ukraine game in a different way but the Kane-Rooney get-together will happen further down the line.
Around 4,200 Ukraine fans are expected in the 85,000 sell out attendance and messages of support will be around the stadium and on the big screens.
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Petro Rewko, chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, said: “Ukrainians everywhere have been overwhelmed by the kindness and compassion, which has allowed them to flee Russia ’s brutal war against Ukraine and find a safe haven in Great Britain to start to rebuild their lives.
Harry Kane has scored more goals than any other England player (PA)“We are immensely grateful to the FA and Wembley Stadium for donating tickets to displaced Ukrainians. They will, of course, be cheering for Ukraine, but they will also be celebrating the England team and their supporters for reaching out a hand of true friendship and making the match such a memorable one for them.”
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate says England will not miss Marcus Rashford. In-form Manchester United striker Rashford pulled out of the squad through injury but then posted pictures of him on a tourist jaunt with his girlfriend to New York.
Southgate admitted that England have had to cope without him in the past and therefore it was not so much of a blow to lose him again. But it could be seen as a thinly veiled dig at Rashford not being able to report up.
England boss Southgate told the BBC : “Well, the feeling was he was playing really well, but we haven’t often had him. "So, in terms of a loss when you haven’t had him that often then it’s different to being a loss. But without a doubt he was in good form. We were looking forward to seeing him.”