Kane injury mars Spurs’ return to winning ways

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 international Kane will undergo a scan on todayhaving 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 Swansea next weekend, 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 BOURNEMOUTH: Begovic, Francis, S Cook, Ake, Daniels (Ibe, 67 mins), A Smith, L Cook, Gosling, Stanislas (Defoe, 76 mins), Wilson, Mousset (King, 67 mins). Unused subs: Boruc, Surman, Arter, Fraser.

TOTTENHAM: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose (Trippier, 80 mins), Wanyama, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli (Sissoko, 85 mins), Son, Kane (Lamela, 34 mins). Unused subs: Vorm, Dier, Llorente, Lucas Moura.

Man of the match: Son Heung-min

Match rating: 7/10

Referee: Mike Dean

injured. “We need to wait until tomorrow because we need to make a scan of his ankle,” replied Pochettino when asked.

“Of course he suffered an injury that is in the same ankle that he suffered before.

“But we hope that it’s not a

Painful: Bournemouth keeper Asmir Begovic has words of comfort for Spurs striker Harry Kane

massive issue. He felt that when he ran and twisted his ankle that it was impossible to stay on the pitch.”

Kane’s international team-mate Dele Alli also seemed to pick up an injury on the south coast, 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 midweek Champions League exit at the hands of Serie A side Juventus, to the delight of Pochettino.

“I’m so pleased. After Wednesday, I think the reaction was important for 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 felt the scoreline flattered Spurs and was unhappy that Callum Wilson had an 84th-minute goal disallowed at 2-1.

Referee Mike Dean blew for a free-kick after spotting a slight push by striker Wilson on Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez, although replays suggested the decision was harsh.

“I think 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.”