Coping without Kane?

Can Tottenham cope without Harry Kane? We look at why it’ll be a big test for Mauricio Pochettino…

It’s a long time since Tottenham went into a Premier League game without Harry Kane in the line-up. It was away to Aston Villa in November 2014, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado were the forwards, and Spurs were losing 1-0 against Villa’s 10 men with just five minutes to go. Kane came off the bench and turned it around, scoring a last-minute winner.

Even that option is lost to Mauricio Pochettino for the near future. A sequence of four games in 12 days that includes a trip to Moscow and culminates in a showdown with title favourites Manchester City was always going to be a test. Now Tottenham must face it without the man who has scored 48 goals in the last 74 Premier League games.

Pochettino’s Premier League record as Spurs boss without Kane in the team is not encouraging. In fact, he’s lost three of the four home games. But this is a very different squad these days and there has been the opportunity to try out alternative shapes in the cup competitions. So what are the options available to the Argentine?

Vincent Janssen

When Manchester City discovered they’d be without Sergio Aguero for three games, Pep Guardiola offered a straightforward response to the question of why he’d be opting for Kelechi Iheanacho as his replacement. “Iheanacho is our striker,” said Guardiola. “I’m excited for him. We had other options but our striker is Iheanacho. He is with us. I have faith.”

Janssen will be hoping for a similar display of trust from Pochettino. Given that the coach was prepared to shift Kane to a deeper role against Crystal Palace in order to …

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