Kane might not be able for Spurs’ derby duel

HARRY Kane has emerged as a potential doubt for Sunday’s north London derby against Arsenal after Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho confirmed the striker missed training yesterday with an injury.

Spurs take on LASK in Group J of the Europa League tonight and vicecaptain Kane is not set to be part of the travelling squad.

Fellow-forward Carlos Vinicius, midfielder Erik Lamela and left-back Sergio Regulion were also absent from training ahead of the clash in Austria, but centre-back Toby Alderweireld has returned after a groin injury.

Asked about Kane, Mourinho said: “I’m not going to tell you the nature of his injury. I think he has a good chance (against Arsenal).

“I don’t want to lie, I don’t want to hide anything in relation to is he going to play or no? I think he’s going to play.

“My feeling is that he’s going to play.”

Kane, the club’s top goalscorer with 13 goals in all competitions this season, was an unused substitute when Spurs beat Ludogorets 4-0 last week but played the whole of Sunday’s goalless draw at Chelsea.

He will not now face LASK and that is the case for Alderweireld too, even though the news on the Belgian is positive.

Mourinho described his groin injury sustained in the 2-0 win over

Manchester City on November 28 as “bad” but he has recovered more quickly than expected.

On Alderweireld, the Spurs boss added: “He has a chance (against Arsenal), not for Thursday, he’s not even an option, he’s not ready for Thursday.

“But he’s doing very well and there’s a chance that he plays. But Joe (Rodon) played against Chelsea and it was not an easy first match to play and Davinson Sanchez will play on Thursday, too, so we have our options.

“If Toby cannot play against Arsenal we will not cry like we did not cry against Chelsea and it will be a chance for another one.”

Dele Alli has barely featured for Spurs in the Premier League this season, but has been a regular in the Europa League.

After a strong showing in the win over Ludogorets, the England international was again not part of the squad for the weekend game at Stamford Bridge.

But Mourinho insisted: “I don’t have any problem with Dele, I don’t have any problem with any one of the players.

“It’s not about that.

“I’m really happy I don’t have personal issues with any one of my players. But of course players are happier when they play, they’re not happy when they don’t play. I don’t blame the players, it’s just the way it is.

“Again there is only one way to improve their situation, which is to work hard every day.”