SPURS PRAY FOR GOOD NEWS ON KANE INJURY
POCHETTINO DELIGHTED WITH VICTORY AT BOURNEMOUTH, BUT WORRIES OVER KEY MAN
Mauricio Pochettino hopes Harry Kane’s ankle injury is not a “massive issue” after the striker was forced off in the first half of Tottenham’s 4-1 win at Bournemouth.
England star Kane will undergo a scan on Monday having picked up the problem scoring a disallowed goal at the Vitality Stadium.
With England manager Gareth Southgate set to name his squad for the forthcoming international friendlies against Holland and Italy before Spurs face an important FA Cup quarter-final at Swanseanextweekend,Kane could be a major absentee for club and country.
However, Spurs manager Pochettino insisted it was too early to know the severity of the issue, which was sustained on the same ankle Kane has previously injured.
“We need to wait until tomorrow because we need to make a scan of his ankle,” replied Pochettino when asked about the condition of the Premier League’s joint leading goalscorer.
“Of course he suffered an injury that is in the same ankle that he suffered before.
“But we hope that it’s not a massive issue. He felt that when he ran and twisted his ankle that it was impossible to stay on the pitch.
“Harry has a great character and is always positive, happy with the victory for the team, of course disappointed with his problem.
“But if you’re positive you start the recovery from injury from now.”
Kane’s international team-mate Dele Alli also seemed to pick up an injury, suffering a problem with his groin. Speaking about Alli, Pochettino added: “I don’t believe that it’s a big issue. We need to, in the next week, manage him. But I don’t believe it will be a big issue.”
Tottenham climbed above Liverpool and into third in the Premier League on the back of their comeback victory as they battle for a top-four finish.
A double from the impressive Son Heung-min plus goals from Alli and Serge Aurier stretched the north Londoners’ unbeaten league record to 12 matches after Junior Stanislas had given the hosts an early lead.
The win also saw Spurs bounce back from their disappointing Champions League exit, to the delight of Pochettino. “I’m so pleased. After Wednesday, I think the reaction was important for
They’re one of the best teams in Europe without a doubt so the fact we’ve stretched them, taken them so far is a compliment for my team.” the team,” he added.
“I think after we conceded the goal, the team reacted and we started to play. It’s a massive three points for us.”
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe was unhappy that Callum Wilson had an 84thminute goal disallowed at 2-1, for a slight push on Davinson Sanchez. “It’s a very, very soft call from the referee,” said Howe. “If there was any contact, it was minimal and at 2-1 down that has a huge bearing on the result.”