Tottenham: Kane’s Injury Not As Bad As Initially Feared
Harry Kane’s injury isn’t as bad as initially feared, but Tottenham still don’t know when he will return.
A week has passed since Tottenham lost Harry Kane to an ankle injury and with an initial diagnosis assuming the worst — up to two months — Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs have received good news.
Kane’s injury isn’t as bad as they thought, though Pochettino didn’t put out a timeframe for when the 23-year-old would be back.
The Argentine manager, speaking to reporters ahead of Spurs’ Champions League fixture against CSKA Moscow in Russia, talked about the results of their second scan.
“Half an hour ago, we received the information about the [second] scan, Pochettino said (via ESPN FC).”
“It’s much, much better than we expected. We are happy, the scan was very positive. We’re very, very happy about this news. But still we cannot give a time of how long it’ll be to recovery.”
“Be sure we’re happy because the scan was better than we expected but I am not a doctor — it’s hard to say one, two, three weeks but it’s much, much, much better than we expected.”
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For the time being, Vincent Janssen will continue to remain as Spurs’ starting striker leading the offense, but the goals have been coming from Tottenham’s attacking midfield trio instead.
In the past two matches (Gillingham and Middlesbrough), Christian Eriksen, Josh Onomah, Érik Lamela and Son Heung-Min have all chipped in with six combined goals.
Janssen scored a penalty, but he isn’t being pressured to score with Kane injured now that Spurs are getting contributions from other players.
Regarding Tottenham’s other injuries: Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Mousa Dembélé and Moussa Sissoko, Pochettino said that all four didn’t make the trip as they’re not fit.
“Eric Dier and Dembélé are recovering from minor problems [hamstring strains suffered] against Sunderland, and Sissoko got concussion during game at Middlesbrough,” Pochettino said.
“They’re OK but we don’t want to take a risk. We’ve a lot of game ahead, and it’s difficult period with them and for the national teams. We’re not taking a risk with them. They’re training well.”
“Dier and Danny Rose are the same level, Mousa a bit further, but why take a risk when we played one or days ago at Middlesbrough, and we have another game tomorrow?”
With five players not being included in the squad due to injuries, there’s a chance that some youth players will suit up and sit on the bench. They may even get a chance to play with Spurs hosting Manchester City five days later with first place on the line.
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Should Marcus Edwards or Anton Walkes make their European debuts, Mauricio Pochettino won’t look at his side’s youth as a reason that they could lose against CSKA Moscow. Or blame a lack of Champions League experience.
“I don’t believe there’s a lack of experience or we lost the first game [against Monaco] because of that,” Pochettino added.
“For different reasons, we didn’t perform the way we wanted and lost. We conceded two very easy goals and in the end they created two chances and scored. We deserved more but we lost.”
“We are young but it’s about competing and tomorrow is a good opportunity to compete differently to how we did against Monaco at Wembley. But I don’t believe a lack of experience was the reason we lost the first game.”