Who is Tottenham’s captain in Harry Kane’s absence?

Harry Kane’s hamstring tear will keep him out of the lineup until March, so who will Tottenham appoint as the club’s interim captain until Hugo Lloris makes his long-awaited return?]

To say Spurs are slim on leadership in Lloris and Kane’s absence is one of the understatements of the new year. There is no shoo-in replacement captain in Tottenham’s ranks, not by a long shot.

So who’s in the running to wear the armband while we patiently wait for Lloris’ return?

Son, the frontrunner

Only a few names come to mind, such is the current circumstance at Tottenham. First on the list has to Son Heung-Min. Sure, he isn’t your prototypical captain. He doesn’t bellow or bark orders to his teammates, and isn’t the most boisterous footballer. His recent rashness – by lashing out at Rudiger – hasn’t exactly strengthened his case to wear the armband. However, Son leads by example like no other. Committed to the cause, full of passion and desire, Son leaves everything on the pitch and is certainly the frontrunner to captain his side.

Does Eric Dier have a case?

Eric Dier is another name worth discussing. But his most recent performances have hampered seriously his case. Dier has many of the leadership characteristics you’d want in a captain: he’s loyal, strong mentally, organizes his teammates and bleeds for the team. He commits to everything wholeheartedly and is a driving force in the locker room. Unfortunately his performances simply aren’t captain material. Maybe when he’s back to his former self, but Dier can’t, under the current circumstances, be anointed with such a distinguished honour.

Toby Alderweireld or Jan Vertonghen are in the mix

Conventional wisdom and history tells us that centre backs are strong candidates. They marshal the team, organize from the back and are typically more assertive, both physically and through pulling the strings vocally.

Toby is a stronger candidate than Jan, mostly because the former has pledged his allegiance to the side, after signing a contract extension, until 2023. Jan’s future is uncertain and thus shouldn’t be rewarded with such a great honour. Then again, it is only a temporary appointment and Jan’s service to the club grants him the right to wear the armband for a month or so.

What about Dele or the other Harry?

For me, it’s a no to both Dele and Winks. While blessed with superstar qualities, Dele doesn’t come across as a bona-fide leader. And Winks isn’t a regular starter, diminishing significantly his chances of wearing the armband.

Son is the frontrunner and should get the opportunity to captain Tottenham. Based on his dominant performances in the last year or so, Son is the man to lead Spurs out of the tunnel until Lloris recovers. Alderweireld would be another strong choice, but the South Korean would take great pride in solidifying his presence as Lilywhites’ captain.

A slightly more unconventional pick than Alderweireld, Son displays the devotion and adoration a captain should for his club.

While Son doesn’t need any more motivation, winning the captaincy will spur him on to unparalleled heights. He already plays like a captain. Why not just make it official?