Kane return a boost for Tottenham’s title chase

STRIKER Harry Kane could return for his side’s home Premier League clash against Watford today after recovering from an ankle injury that has ruled him out for a month.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino, whose side are still chasing Chelsea for the title, delivered the upbeat bulletin during a news conference at the club’s training ground yesterday.

“It’s very good news Harry will be involved again and he’s trained well in the last few days,” Pochettino said.

“I haven’t decided yet if he’ll be in the starting eleven or on the bench but the good thing is that he’s back.

“Harry has fought a lot to get back as soon as possible, like another player would when he’s suffered an injury. They always want to be back as soon as possible.”

Leading scorer Kane’s return would be a huge boost for secondplaced Tottenham, although they have coped well in his absence, winning three consecutive Premier League games and scoring seven goals in the process.

Before suffering his ankle injury against Millwall in the FA Cup, a similar injury to the one that sidelined him for seven weeks earlier in the season, Kane was in a rich vein of form, having scored 14 goals since the turn of the year.

With Chelsea playing Bournemouth away in today’s late kick-off, victory for Tottenham over Watford would see them cut the gap at the top to four points.

Pochettino was refusing to get involved in mind games, however, although he did say Chelsea would find it hard to deal with throwing away the title now.

“It’s true that if after the last eight games of the season they haven’t won the league, it will be tough for them to accept,” said the Argentine, whose side scored three late goals to beat Swansea City 3-1 away on Wednesday.

“I don’t believe in mind games. The ‘mind game’ is to provide my team with belief and character, which we showed at Swansea.

“It is very difficult to affect other teams or managers by playing mind games, as you call them in England.

“We are strong enough. We are the closest team in the league to Chelsea – that is the reality.”

While Kane could return, Tottenham are likely to be without key midfielder Victor Wanyama, and Danny Rose and midfielder Harry Winks are ruled out.

● Liverpool winger Sadio Mane requires knee surgery and will miss the rest of the season, man- ager Juergen Klopp said yesterday.

Senegal international Mane, who has scored 13 Premier League goals this season, suffered the injury during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Everton in the Premier League last weekend.

Mane’s finishing and pace have been key for Liverpool under Klopp and the team won just one of seven games in January – their worst run of results all season – when Mane was at the African Nations Cup.

“Pretty sure Mane needs surgery and then it is season over. Impossible that he will play again this season,” Klopp told a news conference.

Klopp also said midfielder Philippe Coutinho and striker Daniel Sturridge were doubtful for today’s league visit to Stoke City while English duo Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana will both definitely miss the game.

The German, however, said he would not dwell on either the injury crisis or how Liverpool’s rivals were doing in the race for the top four, and urged his players to focus on picking up points.

“It’s not about thinking about the players you can’t (select), it’s about thinking of the players you can,” Klopp said.

Liverpool, who drew 2-2 with Bournemouth in midweek, are third in the table on 60 points, six points above fifth-placed Arsenal and sixth- placed Manchester United, having played two games more than both.

“We want to qualify for the Champions League,” Klopp added. “We don’t play any of our rivals any more so we can’t influence them. We just have to get as many points as we can.

“I don’t think 60, or 62, or 65 points will be enough to reach the Champions League. We need to collect a few more points.”