Harry Kane is not expected to be fit to play in Tottenham’s Champions League showdown against Real Madrid clash at Wembley on Wednesday, according to Football London.
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Kane has told the coaching staff his absence from a hamstring strain should only be a short one.
But Trinity Mirror sports site Football London report in an update on the Spurs spearhead that his expected return date is Sunday’s home Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace.
It is said that Kane has only an outside chance of making the mouthwatering showdown against Real, which pits Spurs against the Champions League holders for the second time in a fortnight.
Tottenham have lost their last two games without their leading goalscoring, slumping to a 1-0 Premier League defeat against Manchester United after being knocked out of the League Cup by West Ham.
Asked for an update on whether Kane can make it for the Champions League group game against the holders Real, Pochettino said, as quoted by the Sun:“My feeling is good. But it’s not my feeling, it’s Harry’s feeling.
“With the doctors and the player, we will take the best decision for everyone. It’s not the last game or the final where you would say ‘OK, after that it’s holidays’.
“We must analyse and take the best decision for everyone. We will assess him and then we will make the best decision.”
OPINION
It is stating the obvious that Spurs need 13-goal top scorer Kane back leading the line as soon as possible. But Pochettino and his staff must not risk Kane’s medium and long term well-being by rushing him back to action for Wednesday night. If he’s not ready, don’t play him. It’s a long season and Tottenham need Kane to play 90 per cent of their matches. He won’t be able to do so if he breaks down again and suffers a more serious hamstring injury that rules him out for a few months. Sure, the Champions League group stages are vital, but Spurs have enough of a cushion to take no points against Real and still quality for the competition’s knockout stages.