Look who’s back Kane ready to return for Spurs against Chelsea
Pochettino defends under-fire Dele Alli,
Mauricio Pochettino, the Tottenham manager, yesterday claimed Harry Kane could make a shock return to the bench against Chelsea on Sunday, and then called for critics to get off Dele Alli’s back.
England striker Kane was expected to be sidelined for at least another fortnight after damaging ankle ligaments at Bournemouth on March 11. But Kane, who underwent extensive treatment during the two-week international break, is back in training and Pochettino did not rule him out of playing some part against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
“It’s difficult now to say yes or no,” he said. “Harry’s very positive and is doing very well. Every day he is improving. He’s so determined, so positive. It’s not about his body, it’s about his brain. The most important muscle he has is his brain.
“We are so pleased because after Bournemouth everyone thought it would be a long time, but that is not the case.”
But while a fit Kane is a certain starter for England against Tunisia in the World Cup on June 18, the same cannot be said for team-mate Alli. Gareth Southgate has warned his midfielder, a shoo-in at the start of the season, that his place in the national team is in increasing jeopardy amid concerns over his recent performances.
The midfielder, 21, has failed to hit the heights of his two previous seasons for Spurs and his form has not improved on the international stage, with the former MK Dons player struggling as a substitute against Holland and failing to come off the bench against Italy.
But Pochettino believes Alli has been a victim of his own success and wants fans to stop targeting him for abuse.
“Younger players always have ups and downs,” added Pochettino. “Sometimes you need to push him and be tough with him. But he is young. He is 21. If you compare with normal people on the street who are 21, they are still living at home with their parents, they are still at university doing stupid things.
“Sometimes we expect too much and we put too much pressure on 21-year-old players. Sometimes we forget and treat them like 40-yearold men. I think you can see every time that we play away from home, the fans focus on him. I think it’s a moment to stop and try to help.”
One piece of unwelcome news for Pochettino yesterday was that Mousa Dembele has confirmed he would not consider signing a new contract before the World Cup and left open the prospect that this could be his last season at the club.
Pochettino is desperate to keep Dembele, even if it means him entering the final 12 months of his deal this summer, and Tottenham will offer the midfielder new terms. The uncertainty over the 30-year-old’s future has alerted a number of clubs across Europe – particularly in Italy after his fine showing against Juventus in Turin.