‘Scrap it’ – Exclusive: Golden Boot winner suggestion to help Spurs stars next season
Kevin Phillips has called for the League Cup to be scrapped next season to help the likes of Tottenham stars Harry Kane, Harry Winks and Eric Dier be fit for the Euros.
The 2000 European Golden Shoe winner, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested removing the cup competition to reduce the number of games early on next season.
The Premier League, like many divisions across Europe, is suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Football Insider understands the hope is for fixtures to resume in mid-June to provide minimal impact on the following campaign.
This would likely mean a two-week break between this season’s end and the 2020/21 season commencing – clubs would, therefore, be afforded no pre-season.
When asked by Football Insider if this was a viable option going forward, Phillips said: “I think what we would have to do is scrap the League Cup for next season so there are not so many games early on in the season.
“It would certainly help these players – especially the English players when we play the Euros the following summer.
“The League Cup and the EFL Trophy because we need to have one eye on the Euros because we need to have a good go at that. I would not want to see the FA Cup scrapped because of the passion of it and what it is.”
UEFA took the decision to postpone Euro 2020 last month and the tournament will now be played next summer.
The announcement may have been welcomed by Gareth Southgate with first-choice strikers Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford potential absentees given long injury lay-offs this year.
In other Tottenham news, Danny Mills has told Football Insider now is the time for Troy Parrott to leave the club.