Harry Kane injured but Alli, Son and Llorente can help Tottenham cope
Don Hutchison discusses how Tottenham will deal without Harry Kane at Old Trafford. Don Hutchison discusses how Tottenham will deal without Harry Kane at Old Trafford.
Tottenham have been dealt a major blow after manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Harry Kane will miss Saturday's match at Manchester United with a minor hamstring strain.
Kane, the Premier League's top scorer with eight, will be assessed ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash against Real Madrid but it is understood he is also doubtful for the holders' visit to Wembley.
The injury, sustained in the 4-1 win over Liverpool last weekend, appears to have come at the worst possible time for Spurs, who are level on points with second-place United and with Real at the top of their Champions League group.
But it is not all doom and gloom. Here's three reasons not to worry about his absence ...
1. Alli and Son are coming into form
Kane was not the only Tottenham player to finish last season with more than 20 goals. Dele Alli and Son Heung-Min passed that milestone too and after slow starts to the campaign, they have returned to form.
Son, who more often than not deputised when Kane was absent last term, scored a brilliant first-time goal against Liverpool last weekend before adding two assists in Wednesday's 3-2 defeat to West Ham.
Alli also started slowly but is back in form and scored against both Liverpool and the Hammers. There is never a good time to lose Kane, as Pochettino pointed out, but the Spurs manager can still call on two fine goal-scorers.
2. They have Fernando Llorente
And then there's Llorente, the £14 million deadline day signing from Swansea, who will have no fear if he is asked to lead the line at Old Trafford. Llorente has won every major prize in international football and he was signed to give Tottenham extra nous and know-how for the biggest games.
After missing preseason with a broken arm, he made a slow start to life at Spurs but he spent the international break undergoing his own mini-preseason and he looked sharp in the draw at Real Madrid and Wednesday's defeat to West Ham.
If Llorente replaces Kane as the lone striker, Spurs will lose energy but the 32-year-old Spaniard gives them the option to play more direct. Having Llorente in the starting lineup may give Spurs that extra experience they have missed in two consecutive 1-0 defeats at Old Trafford.
Harry Kane injured his hamstring in Tottenham's 4-1 win over Liverpool last Sunday.
3. Their record without Kane is good
Tottenham are unbeaten in the league in three years when the England striker has not played and they did not lose in eight league games last season without him, scoring 13 times in five matches in all competitions when he was ruled out with the second of two ankle ligament strains.
Pep Guardiola may have described Spurs as "The Harry Kane team" but he was quick to forget his 100 percent start in English football was ended by a Tottenham side who were missing their talisman.
Spurs have already proved they are even better at coping without star players this year. Take Mousa Dembele, for instance. At the start of last season, Pochettino said Spurs "did not exist" without the Belgian but they have not missed him in the last month, even though Victor Wanyama has been injured too. Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko & Co. have stepped up and there is no reason Spurs cannot do the same without Kane at United and, if he is still unfit, against Real Madrid next week.
Dan is ESPN FC's Tottenham correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @Dan_KP.
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Source: espn.co.uk
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