Harry Kane returns to training on the eve of Champions League first leg against Real Madrid

Harry Kane is in a race against the clock as Bayern Munich’s first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal approaches. The Englishman was injured during the international break, but is aiming for a return at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

Kane training on Monday

Kane came back from the England camp early after feeling a twinge in his ankle last Sunday. Bayern manager Vincent Kompany kept Kane out of the Bundesliga match against SC Freiberg over the weekend, but the league leaders were able to take care of business without their top scorer, winning 3-2 at the Europa-Park Stadion.

England manager Thomas Tuchel called a 35 man squad list to the final international break before the World Cup, and Kane was brought to the camp although Tuchel rested him and some other players that have racked up massive minutes over the course of the campaign. Despite the cautious approach, Kane suffered a niggle that put the first leg of the Champions League quarters in jeopardy.

In the days leading up to the Bundesleague match, Kompany said of Kane’s injury, “It’s not ideal. I would have liked him to be there, but as things stand, that’s not possible.” The good news is Kane is back to training, but whether or not he will be fit enough to feature in the starting XI remains to be seen.

Golden Boot battle at Bernabeu?

Kane is currently leading the Bundesliga with 31 goals in 26 matches, and has 10 goals in the Champions League which is tied for 2nd with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon. Both Kane and Gordon are trailing Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe who has 13 goals in this year’s edition of the Champions League.

It would be a dream match up of world class goal scorers and Golden Boot candidates at the Bernabeu, but Kane will have to get the green light from the medical staff considering he hasn’t played a game since March 21st.

Kane returning to training is only a part of the good news for Bayern who saw Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies questionable for the first leg in Madrid. All three are set to be fully fit for Tuesday night’s opening leg from the Bernabeu, with Kane’s situation improving as we inch closer to kickoff.

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