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.'