Harry Kane’s World Cup fears as Tottenham star faces scan on ankle

Profit Tips 12 March 2018

Tottenham and England face an anxious wait to discover the extent of Harry Kane’s ankle injury.

Striker Kane limped off in the first half of Spurs’ 4-1 Premier League win at Bournemouth on Sunday having hurt himself in the process of scoring a disallowed goal.

The 24-year-old will undergo a scan on Monday to determine the severity of the problem, which could have serious ramifications for both club and country.

Tottenham face an FA Cup quarter-final at Swansea next weekend as they look to end a decade-long wait for silverware, while Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate will on Thursday name his squad for forthcoming friendlies against Holland and Italy with the start of the World Cup just three months away.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful of a positive outcome for the Premier League’s joint leading goalscorer.

“We need to wait because we need to make a scan of his ankle,” Pochettino said.

“Of course he suffered an injury that is in the same ankle that he suffered before. But we hope that it’s not a massive issue.

“He felt that when he ran and twisted his ankle that it was impossible to stay on the pitch.

“Harry has a great character and is always positive, happy with the victory for the team, of course disappointed with his problem.

“But if you’re positive you start the recovery from injury from now.”

Spurs were a goal down to the Cherries when Kane was replaced by Erik Lamela in the 34th minute.

But they battled back to climb above Liverpool and into third in the table as Dele Alli’s goal, Son Heung-min’s brace and a stoppage-time header from Serge Aurier cancelled out Junior Stanislas’ early opener.

After exiting the Champions League at the hands of Serie A side Juventus in midweek, Pochettino was delighted to return to winning ways as his team strengthened their top-four position by making it 12 league games unbeaten.

“I’m so pleased. After Wednesday, I think the reaction was important for the team,” the Argentinian added.

“I think after we conceded the goal, the team reacted and we started to play.

“It’s a massive three points for us.”

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe felt the scoreline was harsh on his players but conceded they had lost to one of European football’s top clubs.

“Physically it was very intense for both sets of players,” he said.

“I thought we gave everything to the match, ultimately they were too good for us.

“But the scoreline definitely is an untrue reflection on how the game went. We were well in that right to the end.

“They are one of the best teams in Europe without a doubt so the fact we’ve stretched them and taken them so far I think is a compliment for my team.”