We can’t put out Harry’s firepower
LEICESTER are on alert for nemesis Harry Kane tonight but Claude Puel fears it may be impossible to stop him.
The Tottenham and England superstar has scored 13 goals in 11 clashes against the Foxes in all competitions, more than against any other club.
Kane’s feats include seven goals in the past three meetings between the sides – including four on Spurs’ visit to the King Power Stadium in May 2017.
And tonight the striker will undoubtedly fancy adding to his 13 goals for Tottenham this season.
“The plan? First thing is that he has scored a lot, not just against Leicester,” said Puel. “He can score all the time against any opponent, it is not a problem for him.
He is a fantastic player and we respect Harry a lot.
“We cannot stop Harry Kane, it is not possible – he can shoot from everywhere. It is about a collective defence all the time to keep an eye on him, to remain close to him, to prevent his shots and his touches.
“It is not just the responsibility of Wes Morgan or Jonny Evans or another player tomorrow though.
“It is not just the defence, it is all the team. “We cannot say he is just for this marker because he likes to play between the lines. The whole team need to be careful with him and take responsibility.” Leicester may recall fit-again Harry Maguire to help cope with the threat posed by fellow his England international, with the defender having been missing from action since injuring his knee against Cardiff on November 3. But Puel is not relying on any inside information that Maguire might have gleaned during the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign.
He said: “They can be friends and have a fantastic relationship but we cannot say we can stop Harry Kane like this.”
Jamie Vardy, meanwhile, is out of the Spurs clash as he continues to battle a groin injury.
The striker sat out Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham and remains a doubt for next week’s trip to Crystal Palace.
Puel ruled out surgery to solve the problem and admitted he cannot rush Vardy back to action. He said: “Jamie won’t be available. We will protect him, he has a little pain and I hope he can recover after 10 days.
“If we push him perhaps it will be a big injury and I want to protect him.
“I hope we can have Jamie for Crystal Palace, but I am not sure.
“We will see if he will improve his feeling and see when we can use him.
“It’s just something about the pain and we needed to be careful. We have to respect the rest so he can come back into the squad.”