Mourinho hopes for Kane lift

Jose Mourinho admitted yesterday he would have to balance the best interests of Tottenham Hotspur against Harry Kane’s desire to return to action as soon as possible.

Kane tore a hamstring on New Year’s Day and his manager is optimistic that both he and Son Heungmin will be back in time to help Spurs challenge for a top-five finish.

Kane is training again and ahead of schedule in his recovery, according to Mourinho. But the manager is aware that his captain has pushed himself back towards fitness before, as he did for last season’s Champions League final following an ankle injury. “Every player breaks protocols to play a cup final,” Mourinho said. “There are some matches where protocols mean nothing. So if that was the case, it isn’t the case to blame Harry or medical department. That is the nature of football.”

This season holds the possibility of a repeat, with the European Championship another incentive for Kane to return to first-team action. But Mourinho said: “Tottenham doesn’t finish in May. There is going to be Tottenham for many, many years, so we would never risk Harry in a difficult situation. He is going to be back when he is ready.”

Son is expected to return to Britain from South Korea this weekend after an operation on a broken arm, and Mourinho hopes that Spurs, who entertain Wolves tomorrow, will still be in touch with the top four or five when he and Kane are available again.

“We just need to be in contact because I think this is going to last until the end of the season,” he said.