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Report: Sturridge set for Scotland start

Reuters

England interim manager Gareth Southgate is ready to start Daniel Sturridge over Harry Kane in Friday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

The Guardian's Dominic Fifield reports Southgate would rather hand Sturridge a third consecutive start in 2018 World Cup qualifying than risk a recently recovered Kane, who missed nearly two months of action with an ankle complaint.

Sturridge's yet to score a Premier League goal this season, though he did strike twice in a 2-1 win over Spurs in the EFL Cup two weeks ago.

He also played from the first minute in qualifiers against Malta and Slovenia.

Southgate confirmed Wayne Rooney will return to the starting lineup after losing his place in the previous international match. He's expected to assume the No. 10 role in-between Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana after an unsuccessful stint in midfield.

The Three Lions have struggled to kill off matches and bury opportunities since limping out of Euro 2016, scoring just seven goals in their past seven competitive fixtures.

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