Nuno: Kane could start against City
NUNO Espirito Santo has left the door open for Harry Kane to feature in Tottenham’s season opener against Manchester City on Sunday.
Spurs boss Nuno was due to speak to star striker Kane for the first time in person yesterday after his delayed return to training following the Euros and his summer break — a wait which has coincided with his attempts to force a move away from Tottenham this summer.
The chances of Kane being involved against City — his main suitors and the club the England captain wants to join — are in doubt with his future up in the air.
Nuno, though, has put the ball in Kane’s court by insisting that all the players in regular training will be in contention for a place in his squad for City’s visit.
Nuno said: ‘All the players who work on a daily basis will be options for us, then it’s up to us to decide.’
Kane was originally expected back at Spurs at the beginning of last week but only returned on Saturday to begin his preparations for the new campaign.
He is currently isolating having holidayed in the Bahamas and Florida — which has so far prevented him from being part of Nuno’s pre-season plans.
Kane is staying at The Lodge, the hotel at Spurs’ training ground. He has been able to begin preparing for the season by training alone but is not due to join Nuno’s first-team group until Thursday.
He could then have up to three days of full training before Spurs host champions City.
Although a week may seem insufficient, Kane has shown previously that he is capable of starting a season despite minimal build-up.
Following the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Kane started Spurs’ opener at Newcastle, playing the full 90 minutes only five days after returning to training.
Whether he is now willing to be involved against City given the backdrop to his pre-season and desire to move remains to be seen.
On his discussions with Kane, Nuno said: ‘We hope to solve all the situations. It’s not about that (Kane’s late return), it’s about what we have to do to solve the situation — this is important.
‘We have to solve it together, everybody involved has to solve it together — speaking, having a nice conversation and putting our opinions, but everybody together.’