Pochettino’s warning cry despite Kane’s double

Spurs will return to Wembley to face Barcelona in midweek back in the Premier League top four after Harry Kane’s first-half double secured victory.

Kane matched his two goals from the same weekend last season, his tally of four now making him the venue’s top Premier League scorer. That is a stark indication of the lack of firepower which haunts David Wagner’s Huddersfield side, yet to score a home league goal this season and with just one since February 11.

Kane headed Kieran Trippier’s cross past Jonas Lossl in 25 minutes before converting a soft penalty nine minutes later after Danny Rose felt a tug on his shirt from Florent Hadergjonaj and fell in the box.

Backed by incredible support – perhaps England’s finest, said Mauricio Pochettino – Huddersfield kept going and Spurs’ reserve goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga needed to be at his best to keep out a powerful low shot from Chris Lowe and substitute Isaac Mbenza’s late blast.

But a comeback never looked likely once Laurent Depoitre’s volley hit the underside of the bar and stayed out in first-half injury time.

Without the injured Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, Pochettino must sweat on the fitness of Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele, both withdrawn at the break with muscle problems.

Three straight wins mean Spurs head for Wembley in better form than Barcelona but Pochettino remains wary. “We are going to fight, it was important for the team to bounce back after two defeats. You know when Barcelona play Champions League it’s completely different. They are going to be so motivated to play against us in Wembley.”

Gazzaniga will be attempting to frustrate one of his heroes in Lionel Messi, if Hugo Lloris’s thigh does not recover. “We know Messi is the best in the world. That means he is unpredictable, so you have to keep focused,” he said.

Gazzaniga knows his side have their own talisman in Kane, whose goals lifted him past Jermain Defoe into fifth in Tottenham’s all-time highest scorer list with 145.

“To have a player like Harry Kane is unbelievable because he gives us security,” said Gazzaniga. “He makes us feel safe because he is a character and the best striker.” Wembley awaits expectantly.