No Kane but Spurs have no excuses
MANAGER Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham must not use Harry Kane’s injury layoff as an excuse if they fail to win silverware this season.
Kane, who was ruled out of action for at least seven weeks after a scan on Tuesday, is determined to return in time for the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on February 24, should Spurs overcome Chelsea in the second leg of their semi-final next week.
But whether or not he does, Pochettino says his side must show they can do the business without their 20-goal top scorer.
Pochettino said: “Of course Harry Kane is one of the best strikers in the world. We cannot hide that.
“In any team expecting to win, you need your best players. But that cannot be an excuse in case we don’t achieve all that we want.
“We know what it means to have Harry Kane fit. But we need to compete in the best way.”
Despite being told by doctors he will not be fit to return to training until March at the earliest, Kane believes he is a quick healer and can beat that prognosis.
The England captain has now suffered ankle injuries four times in the past three years but on each occasion has defied the expectations of medical staff by getting back on the pitch quicker than expected.
Meanwhile, Spurs have no plans to take action against Serge Aurier after it emerged yesterday the Ivorian was arrested on suspicion of assault on Saturday.
Police were called to his home in Hertfordshire, where he lives with reality TV star Hencha Voigt, and took the defender into custody before he was released without charge.