Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino will not stop Harry Kane spearheading England's attack in this summer's Nations League Finals, despite the striker's recurring struggles with injury.
Kane will see a specialist next week after suffering 'significant lateral ligament' damage to his left ankle in Spurs' Champions League win over Manchester City on Tuesday, with Pochettino admitting it will be 'difficult for him to play again before the end of the domestic season.
It's the fifth such problem the striker has suffered since 2016, and the second to his left ankle this season.
Kane is battling to be fit for England's Nations League semi-final against Holland on June 6 and Pochettino insisted he will not tell the Three Lions captain to skip the tournament to give his ankle a rest.
'You know me very well, after six years and half years working in England my will is to help the national team, I'm never going to tell the player not to go to the national team,' Pochettino said ahead of Spurs' clash with Huddersfield on Saturday.
'Our first interest now is to try and provide Harry with the best conditions and tools to recover as soon as possible and hope he can be fit as soon as possible and help us at the end of the season and help national team to win the title they're going to fight for in the summer.
'(But) now is not a moment to talk too much, now is a moment to help hm be fit as soon as possible, to help us, and in the summer if Gareth (Southgate) think he's going to be important to help the national team then to help the national team.'
Kane will miss Saturday's clash with Huddersfield at Spurs' new stadium, which Pochettino believes will be 'decisive' in the race for the top four.
His England team-mate Dele Alli, meanwhile, will be assessed before the match after breaking his hand against City.
Spurs coped well without Kane during an injury lay-off earlier this season, winning five of seven matches in his absence.
But on Friday Pochettino insisted: 'It's a stat that means nothing, Harry is one of the best players in the world and of course we're going to miss him. There is no doubt we are better when he's fit and in the squad.'
He added: 'He was so upset after the game, it was such a difficult moment for him of course... we feel so disappointed to accept the situation but now it's much better. He had a scan yesterday, he needs to see a specialist next week and we'll see.
'Now he's in a good place because he's a very positive guy. Of course he's disappointed and a little bit sad but he's a very positive person who is looking forward to recovering as soon as possible.'
MaeHoward
0
He needs to rest when England are playing their easy matches they know they can win and only come on when needed. Otherwise stay off and rest man!! You don’t want it to be 90% better, play a full match and then get wiped out for the rest of the season
numdlpr
0
rest is all the man needs but modern football is like blood sucking to the extreme so he will not rest and this will become a recurring issue most likely. Kane needs to take a year off, i am no doctor, nor do i need to join that blood sucking false swearing do no evil fraternity. but the ankles are weight bearing joints so they should be shown the proper respect. hail to the tree lion Neymar
ukraine
1
Don't really think that Kane will be a huge factor missing against City because Spurs always seem to do a bit better than excpected when their key players are injured. Dont know against the Netherlands though.
illusion
2
Time for Vardy to come out of retirement and smash some foreigners' dreams of the Nations League
Rose55
1
Vardy must be coming out of retirement now.
Oliverkiss
1
Wonder if Henderson would captain England again then
opldmkk
0
Such an unnecessary challenge. Shame.
rockermang
1
Wouldn't be right really for England to have a chance in a tournament without the main man getting injured
TeamJUV
1
Ankle injuries tend to last years too, especially the early repeaters. Hope it doesn’t bog him down from a chance at a truly great career
Perfectbr
1
If he’s not 100% by the time the nations league rolls around he shouldn’t play, I know he’ll want to but he needs proper recovery. He’s played more matches than most in the PL and/or England in the last few seasons and if he stands any chance of having an effective career past 30 he needs to be looked after by club and country. Imagine not having him available for the next World Cup because of a chronic injury that could have been better prevented. Ligaments are notoriously slow to heal, a full summer off would be his best hope of strengthening it back to maybe 75%.
Bensons
2
Kane’s been excellent this season but he needs a nice long break
enjoying
0
Why would Janssen play? 🤔 Because Kane is hurt so Janssen would be a funny replacement
ointment
1
Who is replacing Kane. No one even in the same class as him. England has two world class players, Kane and Sterling.
Loversad
0
he's now had 3 injuries to his right ankle, and 2 to his left not good for his chances of longevity Kane is a pure natural finisher so a long career is still possible, but his mobility is so great for his size and if he loses that its going to be basically impossible to get back to his peak.
ppogbaa
0
Kane’s been excellent this season but he needs a nice long break
July4
0
England has two world class players, Kane and Sterling. You can't replace Kane, unfortunately. Eh disagree he’s scored last few games but he’s hardly been instrumental in the all round play and it’s the wingers and midfielders who are providing
blackhappy
0
Son plays better as hes more focal but as a team we were much better with kane on
Santiag
0
ooking forward to the Janssen brace at the Etihad next Wednesday I forgot he existed. I thought he was playing for Fenerbahce What about next weekend? Make it next weekend Why would Janssen play? 🤔 Because Kane is hurt so Janssen would be a funny replacement 4-4 fookin 2 with Janssen and Lorrente up top. Pochettino shocking the world playing proper actual brexitball telling Son and Lucas to " stick to the line the entire game, never venture inwards WORK THE CORRIDOR".
podkill
0
It was Kane that made said unnecessary challenge.......
ukrainec
0
We’ve dropped so many points with Kane back from injury. He’ll be missed for sure but I’m just happy he’s gonna rest up finally.
incorporate
0
Kane went tried to leave one in on him, it was a perfectly understandable reaction. He didn't look like a jackass in the slightest.
Casioos
0
Hope it doesn’t bog him down from a chance at a truly great career he's now had 3 injuries to his right ankle, and 2 to his left not good for his chances of longevity Kane is a pure natural finisher so a long career is still possible, but his mobility is so great for his size and if he loses that its going to be basically impossible to get back to his peak.
Teresalambert
0
source legit? No. It is literally just going off of the official update from the club that Kane may have ligament damage. Until further scans are done, not even the doctors know how long he is out for I mean an ankle sprain is by definition ligament damage - this whole post seems like ridiculous speculation to me.
Tommylus
0
Kane has gone in unnecessarily hard, and delph has immediately had a word with him for it. Standard behaviour. Probably barely enough time had passed for him to realise kane was actually injured anyway.
Schluppe
0
How was he to know Kane was seriously injured at that point, exactly? Unless the man has MRI-vision goggles, he was just reacting to an entirely unnecessary challenge in the heart of the moment. It doesn't matter if he is seriously hurt or not. You know you stepped on him and he is in pain.
JohnMc2018
0
Kane going to score the winner in the final
JohnMc2018
0
that's right but Delph must be banned not to play some matches
Why he didn’t do anything, it was a 50/50 and Kane came out worse
messidaabdura
1
that's right but Delph must be banned not to play some matches