Tight hamstring keeps Harry out
WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT WITHOUT KANE Llorente or Son could start up front against United.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said yesterday his high-flying side need to prove they can win without Harry Kane as they head to Manchester United minus the injured striker.
Kane has already hit 13 goals for Spurs this season but was forced off late on in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Liverpool with a hamstring issue.
The 24-year-old will not feature against United as Tottenham look to address a recent poor record at Old Trafford and leapfrog Jose Mourinho’s side in the Premier League table.
Pochettino said he was not willing to take a risk by involving Kane, who found the net twice against Liverpool before his late injury, with other big games on the horizon.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola recently labelled Tottenham as “the Harry Kane team” but Pochettino pointed to last term, when Spurs coped without Kane as he nursed an ankle injury, as proof they can be successful without their talisman.
“We don’t need to prove ourselves, that we’re Tottenham,” said Pochettino, whose side lie third in the Premier League table with 20 points, trailing United only on goal difference.
“You always want all the players available. We always believe in collective, the squad. During the season, problems happen and you must trust all the players, all the squad.”
The club described Kane’s injury as a “minor strain to the left hamstring”, which has already been assessed.
Pochettino said it was only a “small issue” but he did not want to worsen the problem by playing him against United.
“We can’t take the risk,” the Argentine said. “The doctor and medical staff made the decision to not take the risk. There is no sense in taking that risk and making the problem bigger.
“The players are not machines and it is so difficult to cope with international duty and playing every three days.
“It is not a big problem, only a small issue, but he is not going to play.”
Pochettino could hand summer signing Fernando Llorente his full Premier League debut in place of Kane, while using Son Heung-Min as an out-and-out striker is also a possibility.
A win for United will not only end a two-game winless streak for Jose Mourinho’s men but will also provide “a big statement” about their championship prospects, midfielder Ander Herrera has said.
“It’s going to be very, very difficult but we play at home in front of our fans and we have to try to win,” Herrera told British media ahead of the game.
“Tottenham are a direct rival every season. In the last two or three years they have improved a lot and they are contenders for everything – the Champions League, the Premier League and for the FA Cup.
“They are very organised, they play really good football and they have players who can score ... even their fullbacks are very offensive. It will be a big statement if we beat them.” –
Today:
Arsenal v Swansea, Bournemouth v Chelsea, Liverpool v Huddersfield, Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, West Brom v Manchester City, Crystal Palace v West Ham, Watford v Stoke.
Brighton v Southampton, Leicester v Everton
Burnley v Newcastle
Tomorrow: Monday:
United