Manchester Evening News

Jose says Harry’s back in the game

- By ELLIOTT JACKSON

of the Europa League in August.

“I hope that we can show our best form until the end of the season because it’s a big two months for us,” Solskjaer added.

“And if we can get everyone up to speed as quick as we can we have got a good chance of challengin­g for trophies and challengin­g for the top three positions, because I think we have to look upwards.

“The first couple of games in a new season, which this is, a mini-season, things always seem to happen – individual mistakes, a referee makes a mistake or even Hawkeye makes a mistake [in the Aston Villa-Sheffield United draw], and we hope that we can get a good start against Tottenham.

“With Paul and Marcus back, having everyone fit will stand us in good stead and we hope to challenge for trophies towards the end.”

JOSE Mourinho has confirmed Harry Kane will start for the first time in six months when Tottenham take on United tonight.

The two clubs restart their Premier League campaign with a crucial match which could have a big say in the race for the top four.

United head into the game fifth in the Premier League table, three points behind Chelsea but four ahead of Spurs.

Victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side would create a significan­t gap from Tottenham, which Mourinho’s side would have to bridge in their final eight games.

However, Spurs are boosted by the return of Kane, who hasn’t played since tearing his hamstring on New Year’s

Day.

Despite the lengthy lay-off, Mourinho has confirmed the England captain will lead the line against United.

“He is working extremely well, I can tell you no problem he is going to start the game,” Mourinho said during his pre-match press conference.

“Does he have 90 minutes, 80, 70, 60? I don’t know. Only the game will tell us that.

“Is he in his top form? We don’t know. It is not a little training session. He’s had around six months without playing a football match.

“But he has worked extremely well, he is an amazing profession­al and is going to start.”

Mourinho also confirmed Moussa Sissoko and Son Heung-min will start. On Spurs’ battle for a top-four finish, Mourinho added: “It is a strange battle to fight but at the same time it is a great challenge and a great motivation.

“I will try not to look at that points difference. That is why I cannot tell you exactly the difference in points we have to our opponents. “We have to look to this incredible challenge in the way that every game we will try to win.

“At the end of the nine matches we will see what we did and what our opponents did. Normally in these fights you don’t have to depend as much as we do on our direct opponents. That is really difficult.

“But let’s focus on one match at a time.

“Tomorrow it is Manchester United, the points are there to fight for and that is what we are going to do.”

He’s working extremely well, I can tell you no problem he’s going to start

Jose Mourinho on Harry Kane

 ??  ?? Paul Pogba may be eased back gradually after such a long absence
Paul Pogba may be eased back gradually after such a long absence
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 ??  ?? Harry Kane and Son Heung-min
Harry Kane and Son Heung-min
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