Jose Mourinho promises not to play Tottenham's Harry Kane in 'any friendly' as Southgate exchange continues

Jose Mourinho continued his public repartee with Gareth Southgate over Harry Kane's game time by promising not to play the Tottenham striker in a "any friendly match" this season following his hat-trick in the 7-2 win over Maccabi Haifa.

Ahead of Thursday's Europa League play-off tie, Mourinho urged the England manager not to over-play Kane in the triple-header against Wales, Belgium and Denmark this month.

In response, Southgate reminded the Spurs manager that the nation was counting on him to keep Kane fresh in April and May ahead of next summer's European Championship, saying: "It works both ways."

He also joked that Mourinho had not labelled him a "friend", as he had his England assistant Steve Holland.

Speaking after Kane inspired Spurs to a thumping win over Maccabi, which booked their place in the Europa League group stage, Mourinho said of Kane: "His match was a fundamental match for us.

"A match that means a few million pounds and means that we are in a group phase of a competition that we have ambitions [to win].

"What I can promise to my friend Steve Holland and for Gareth not to be jealous, for my friend Gareth, I can promise that until the end of the season I don’t play Harry Kane one minute of any friendly match."

Mourinho's chances of limiting Kane's minutes are set to be boosted by the arrival of a new centre-forward in Benfica's Carlos Vinicius, who is set to join on a season-long loan deal this weekend.

Asked about the Brazilian, Mourinho said: "I want you to ask me that question when it's confirmed.

"Nobody told me it's done so I'm going to respect the situation, respect the player, respect Benfica and wait a little bit more. Next time we see each other maybe I'm in conditions to answer."

Kane's early goal, Lucas Moura's header and a double from Giovani Lo Celso gave Spurs a 4-1 lead over Maccabi, of Israel, at half-time, and the England captain added two more after the break before substitute Dele Alli won and scored a penalty in stoppage time.

Both sides were awarded controversial second-half penalties in the space of four minutes for handball offences.

"Job done, group phase, almost at the end of an incredible period," Mourinho added after Spurs' third match in five days following Sunday's draw with Newcastle and the win over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

"Good for the team, good for the boys. The hat-trick, he's scored so many and has so many balls at home, that is always nice. And good for Dele to come on, to create a proper penalty, and to score."

He said of the players that started twice in 48 hours: "What Eric Dier, Steven Bergwijn and Toby Alderweireld did is not human.

"It’s proven, scientifically proven, every sport scientist person knows that what they did shouldn't be done. To play 180 minutes in three days shouldn't be allowed.

"These three guys did it, I know that some others played also until their limit, but we managed because we have a good squad and we have a squad with different options.

"We managed to share players in these matches and we managed to go through two knockout competitions in the Carabao and Europa League but we could have gone out. Job done. I am really happy for the job done."

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