Mourinho hoping Kane will be given a break by England

TOTTENHAM boss Jose Mourinho is hoping Harry Kane is protected in the forthcoming international break while also stating Son Heung-min cannot play for South Korea if he does not feature for his club first.

Kane has played 38 times already for Spurs in a congested season and, with a worrying injury history, there are legitimate concerns about his fitness going into the business end of the campaign.

Son has been named in South Korea’s squad for a friendly in Japan despite limping off during Sunday’s north London derby defeat to Arsenal with a hamstring injury.

England play San Marino, Albania and Poland in World Cup qualifiers in next week’s international break and Mourinho is keen for his star man not to feature in all three.

“I have no control, if I could choose I would love them all to go because I love my players to be involved in national teams,” Mourinho said before confirming Kane would start Spurs’ Europa League last-16 second-leg tie with Dinamo Zagreb.

“I think it’s a question of pride for them and a plus for us as a club so we like the players to go.

“There is nothing we can say. If one of you ask me is he going to play tomorrow or is he going to rest, he’s going to play. The game is open, it’s an important game for us, so he plays.”

Spurs are firm favourites to advance to the last-eight after Kane’s two goals last week gave

Harry Kane them a 2-0 advantage.

Zagreb have been plunged into chaos since that game as their head coach Zoran Mamic has been forced to resign after being handed a four-year prison sentence for fraud.

But Mourinho insists the tie is still alive.

“I don’t think it’s such a good lead,” he said. “I feel it’s open, I don’t feel it’s game over.”