No Harry, no problem for Pochettino
Stakes are high for Man U and Spurs as Mourinho seeks to keep winning sequence at home going
>> MANCHESTER: Tottenham striker Harry Kane will miss today’s Premier League clash with title rivals Manchester United with a hamstring injury, manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed yesterday.
The in-form 24-year-old left the field at Wembley holding his upper leg in the 87th minute after scoring twice in last weekend’s 4-1 win against Liverpool.
Spurs confirmed on Twitter that the England forward has been diagnosed with a “minor strain to the left hamstring”, and Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference yesterday that Kane will not be involved at Old Trafford.
“We can’t take the risk,” the Argentine said. “The doctor and medical staff made the decision to not take the risk. There is no sense in taking that risk and making the problem bigger.”
Pochettino acknowledged his disappointment at being without the prolific forward but insisted it was “only a small issue”.
“The players are not machines and it is so difficult to cope with international duty and playing every three days,” he added. “It is not a big problem, only a small issue, but he is not going to play [on Saturday].
“We don’t need to prove ourselves [without Kane]. I think last season, in the period he was injured, you can see the stats and the games we played — win and lose with Harry, win and lose without Harry.
“I’m disappointed because he is our main striker and I think he is one of the best strikers in Europe, in the world, and always you are going to miss your best striker. I am not silly or stupid to talk in a different way.”
Defeat is not an option for Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Pochettino as their teams seek to keep pace with leaders Manchester City in the Premier League title race.
United and Tottenham begin the weekend five points behind City as they face each other at Old Trafford.
United have lost significant ground in the last fortnight, following up a dire goalless draw at Liverpool by falling to a surprising first league defeat of the season last Saturday, as Huddersfield Town beat them 2-1.
Mourinho, who accused his players of a “poor attitude” after the Huddersfield reverse, made seven changes for Tuesday’s League Cup fourth-round tie at fellow Premier League club Swansea and was rewarded with a 2-0 victory.
Most of those omitted from the starting line-up in midweek are set to be restored against Spurs, among them Romelu Lukaku, who is seeking a return to form, having gone four games without a goal after scoring 11 in his first 10 United appearances.
Mourinho is looking to get some of his injured players back quickly, although he has given no indication as to when France midfielder Paul Pogba will be ready to return from a hamstring injury sustained on Sept 12.
Phil Jones, who limped off at Huddersfield with a thigh strain, was among the substitutes at Swansea, and will be fit, while his central defensive partner Eric Bailly is also close to being available after suffering a groin injury with Ivory Coast at the start of the month.
Marouane Fellaini is still recovering from a knee ligament strain, though, while fellow midfielder Michael Carrick also remains injured.
United have won all four of their home league matches this season, scoring 14 goals and conceding none, and Mourinho is seeking to keep that sequence going.
Midfielder Ander Herrera said: “Tottenham are a direct rival every season. In the last two or three years they have improved a lot and they are contenders for everything; the Champions League, the Premier League and for both cups.
“It will be a big statement if we beat them.”
For Pochettino’s side, an unexpected home loss to struggling West Ham United in the League Cup in midweek delivered a sharp reality check to the north London club who squandered a 2-0 half-time lead before eventually losing 3-2 to the Hammers.