England dropouts hit back at claims they’re crying off, fresh details on Arsenal sporting director search as new candidate emerges and Mohamed Kudus puts Champions League clubs on alert: the SAMI MOKBEL COLUMN

There’s an exception to every rule, and today Declan Rice is the exception.

Harry Kane’s pointed remarks towards England’s dropouts here in Athens hit the mark. The captain made a compelling argument, though there was a significant degree of annoyance from representatives of England players (not Rice, it must be said), who have been in touch with Mail Sport, at suggestions this week that their clients have cried off, insisting withdrawals are for genuine reasons.

Nevertheless, Kane makes a valid point, though the assertion that international football should always come before club commitments, while being a wholesome sentiment, is an ideology far removed from the actual truth for modern day players, who are paid millions by their employers.

There is no right or wrong answer.

With all that said, such accusations should not be applied to Rice. Kane would likely be the first to admit that.

First and foremost Rice withdrew from the England squad with a genuine injury – a broken foot.

He required painkillers to play against Chelsea on Sunday. If it wasn’t Chelsea away, he may not have even played at all.

England medics knew all of this, and told Rice not to bother reporting to St George’s Park on Monday so they could check him out themselves.

But even if he wasn’t injured, Rice could do with a rest. No, scratch that: he needs a rest.

The statistics are startling: since the start of the 2022-23 season Rice has played 115 matches for Arsenal and West Ham – only Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Marcus Rashford have played more among Premier League players.

From the same point: only Fernandes and Arsenal team-mate Gabriel Magalhaes have played more than Rice’s 9,589 minutes of football in that span.

There’s a similar scenario brewing with Phil Foden, who also withdrew from the squad this week.

The Manchester City forward, like Rice, has played 115 matches since the start of the 2022-23 campaign. 

But even if Rice, and to a degree Foden, aren’t injured you can build a strong case to suggest they should have given these games a miss anyway.

Because imagine if what happened to Rodri happens to Rice. Catastrophe.

This isn’t to suggest Rice, or any other player for that matter, should be granted special treatment.

If Rice hadn’t suffered a broken toe then he’d have reported for duty like everyone else.

Speak to those close to Rice and they’ll paint a picture of a player who prides himself on turning out for his country, with his 62 caps already more than the likes of Jimmy Greaves, Paul Gascoigne and Stanley Matthews even at a relatively young age.

Indeed, the 25-year-old’s dedication to recovery between matches, according to the numbers, makes him one of the most durable footballers in England.

But there is also a degree of luck that comes with avoiding injuries. If something doesn’t change, how long before that luck runs out?

That responsibility largely lies with club managers, in this case Mikel Arteta.

As important Rice is to his team, Arteta will realise his midfielder’s huge workload. Pulling him out of the starting XI is easier said than done, more so now as Arsenal try to close a nine-point gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

But something has to give to prolong Rice’s top level career. England need to mindful of that scenario, too.

Since making his West Ham debut in 2017, Rice has played on average close to 47 matches a season.

Last season he played 66 times in all competitions for club and country. The season before that, 64. The season before that the number was 55. That is unsustainable – even for a player as dedicated to recovery as Rice.

Similarly, Rice’s running stats consistently defy logic, particularly for a player who starts and completes most games.

While he will never admit it publicly, Rice – as willing as he may be to put his body on the line – realises the dangers of his tiresome workload.

And while he lives life the right way – he is only human.

Hammers to stand firm on Kudus  

West Ham are expected to stand firm on Mohammed Kudus’ £85million release clause as they brace themselves for offers for their star forward next summer.

A host of top Premier League teams hold a concrete interest in the Ghana international, with Arsenal and Liverpool believed to be among the sides monitoring Kudus carefully.

The attacker’s release clause will re-activate in the summer window and may prove prohibitive, particularly as clubs try to comply with profit and sustainability rules.

And Kudus will still have three years left on his contract next summer, meaning the Hammers are under no real pressure to sell.

Whether West Ham are able to maintain that stance for the entirety of the summer window remains to be seen, particularly if Kudus agitates to move.

The 24-year-old is settled at West Ham and is enjoying his time at the London Stadium, but it is understood he is fully open to leaving, particularly for a side that can offer Champions League football.

Arsenal eye up Edu replacement

Bayer Leverkusen managing director of sport Simon Rolfes is among the early names on Arsenal’s radar as they begin the process of replacing Edu.

Mail Sport exclusively revealed last week that Edu was departing the Emirates Stadium to take a new global position with a multi-club structure – potentially with Greek businessman Evangelos Marinakis’ stable of clubs, which includes Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal executives are in Los Angeles this week for talks with the club’s ownership, with how they look to replace Edu sure to be on the agenda.

And Mail Sport understands that Rolfes is among those who has admirers behind the scenes at Arsenal as they start the process of identifying candidates for the vacancy.

Under Rolfes, who played 26 times for Germany, Leverkusen have broken Bayern Munich’s stranglehold on the Bundesliga title as the team – coached by Xabi Alonso – won their first ever domestic title last season.

And his work at Bayer has not gone unnoticed behind the scenes at the Emirates as they get to grips with the sort of profile of candidate they will look to appoint.

Real Sociedad director of football Roberto Olabe is also likely to emerge as a contender following his decision to leave the La Liga side at the end of the season.

Jason Ayto will take Edu’s sporting director role on an interim basis. Ayto is highly regarded at the Emirates and could emerge as the a candidate to replace Edu on a permanent basis depending on the skillset the club prioritises.

West Ham’s Tim Steidten and Monaco’s Thiago Scuro have also been linked with the post.

Brighton’s scouting restructure

Brighton are scrapping the remit of ‘positional scouting’ as part of an overhaul of the club’s talent identification structures.

One of the key components of the club’s heralded recruitment department has been the employment of position-specific scouts – for example a member of staff designated specifically to analyse central defenders.

Given the huge success Brighton have had in identifying untapped talent, a number of clubs have replicated their scouting setup – but the south coast outfit have now moved away from the position scouts as part of their restructuring.

England cricket chief shares his wisdom  

The England men’s cricket team’s managing director Rob Key was among the special guest speakers at the Premier League’s Coaching and Performance summit in Manchester this week.

Football has become more open to taking advice from other sports in recent years; previous England manager Gareth Southgate among those to have worked closely from leading figures away from football to hone his craft.

And Key, who had a long playing career with England and Kent before taking up his current role, provided his expert insight to a range of experienced and rookie coaches – including a number of ex-players – at the event at the Kimpton Hotel on Tuesday.

Intriguingly, former Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic also spoke at the event. Terzic left the Bundesliga club in the summer despite leading them to the Champions League final last season, and is keen a move to the Premier League.

David Moyes, Darren Moore and Aaron Danks, who is assistant manager at Bayern Munich, were also on hand to impart their wisdom.

Marinakis jets in ahead of kick off

Having missed Greece’s historic win over England at Wembley last month, Evangelos Marinakis was in a race against time to attend Thursday’s Nations League clash between the two sides in Athens.

The Nottingham Forest owner, one of the most recognisable figures in Greece, was on business in New York City when his homeland stunned England with a euphoric 2-1 win at Wembley.

And ahead of tonight’s return match in the Greek capital, Marinakis will jet in from another scheduled engagement in the Middle East this evening, in the hope that he can make it for kick-off.

Saka allowed to stay in London

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka had the FA’s permission not to report to St George’s Park on Monday.

While Chelsea duo Levi Colwill and Cole Palmer both made the trip to the national football centre from London before being released to return to their club, Saka remained in the capital after England and Arsenal medical staff collaborated to coordinate a scan for the attacker.

Saka suffered a thigh issue against Chelsea on Sunday, the results of which meant all parties agreed it wouldn’t be worthwhile the Gunners star travelling up to England’s HQ.

The issue is not said to be serious, but was bad enough for England doctors to accept he didn’t need to report. Saka’s club team-mate Declan Rice also didn’t report following earlier dialogue between Arsenal and England over his broken toe.

Colwill, Palmer and Jack Grealish were among the players who did arrive at England’s base in Burton on Monday afternoon only to be told they could go back to their clubs.

Eze could give Palace major boost  

Crystal Palace are not completely ruling out Eberechi Eze from facing Aston Villa immediately after the international break despite his hamstring strain.

The England international suffered the injury in the Carabao Cup win over Villa on October 30 and Oliver Glasner is yet to indicate when Eze may be fit to return.

Mail Sport understands the prognosis at the time of the injury was the forward missing between three and four weeks.

With that in mind, Eze’s chances of making the game against Unai Emery’s side are rated as 50-50. Failing that there will be greater hope the attacker will be available to face Newcastle on November 30.

Branthwaite’s issue revealed

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite was released from England duty due to a pelvic issue.

Originally called up into the England Under 21 squad, Branthwaite was promoted into to the senior setup after eight players withdrew from Lee Carsley’s squad.

But having missed training on Wednesday and Thursday, the central defender has not travelled to Athens for tonight’s clash versus Greece.

And it is understood Branthwaite is suffering from a pelvic bone complaint following last weekend’s draw versus West Ham.

Everton are hopeful, however, that the 22-year-old will be available for their game versus Brentford after the international break.