Jose Mourinho insists Tottenham’s situation is not as bad as last season despite Harry Kane injury

The striker has the most assists in the league this season

Jonathan Veal
Saturday 30 January 2021 08:06 EST
Comments
Harry Kane
Harry Kane (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho knows Harry Kane's latest injury absence is not as grave a situation as last year.

Kane suffered injuries to both ankles in Thursday's defeat against Liverpool, but it is the one to his left joint which could to keep him out for a number of weeks, depending on the results of a scan this weekend.

It is an almost annual event for the England captain to be injured at this time of the season as 12 months ago he ruptured a hamstring which threatened to end his campaign before coronavirus struck.

READ MORE: Premier League fixtures and table - all matches by date and kick-off time

Spurs then lost Son Heung-min, Erik Lamela and Steven Bergwijn to deplete their attacking options, but Mourinho can take comfort in that not being the case this time.

Although he has used his sparingly in the Premier League, he has striker Carlos Vinicius at his disposal as well as Gareth Bale, while Son, Lamela and Bergwijn are all fit.

"One thing is to have like last season three or four attacking players all injured at the same time. And Another thing is to have just Harry Kane.

"Because of course we have Carlos Vinicius, Steven Bergwijn, Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela, Gareth Bale and if I forgot anyone, I apologise for that.

"Of course it's a different situation, because we have attacking players."

Mourinho will be without Kane at Brighton on Sunday, but he has confirmed defender Joe Rodon will start.

Rodon put in an impressive performance against Liverpool, before making a mistake which allowed Sadio Mane to kill the game.

But Mourinho saw enough from the Wales international to commit to playing him again.

"Next game he plays for sure," Mourinho said. "Against Liverpool he showed good personality, good concentration, was good on the ball.

"First half building well and going for duels. Not a coward for not to assume the duels, a brave boy to go for every duel, even against difficult opponents like they are. For me his performance was very, very good, very solid. He made one mistake. Unlucky that it leads to their third goal, the goal that basically kills the game.

"When I have a player who makes one mistake, it doesn't matter how big the mistake was, but completely out of the context of a very good, solid performance I only have to support the player and protect the player and the best way to do that is to play the next game for sure."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in