Voice of London

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Harry Kane will miss his side’s trip to Manchester United this weekend.

The news, which comes as little surprise after the striker hobbled off injured against Liverpool last weekend, makes an already daunting trip to Old Trafford even tougher.

Kane has been one of the most in-form strikers in Europe this year and has scored 45 goals in 40 games since January. His record beats even that of Cristiano Ronaldo, currently the world’s best player, who has 44 goals in 48 appearances for club and country in 2017.

Pochettino would have been looking to the England forward as a focal point against United on Saturday, who sit second in the league above them only on goal difference.

Taking three points off José Mourinho at Old Trafford will put Spurs just two points behind leaders Manchester City, who have 25 points ahead of their match against West Bromwich Albion.

News that Kane will miss his team’s trip to Manchester broke early on Friday morning, with Tottenham’s official Twitter account announcing Kane has been under medical assessment, which revealed a minor strain to his left hamstring.

Following that announcement, Pochettino confirmed that the 24-year-old will not be in the matchday squad tomorrow. He said, per the Guardian:

“We can’t take the risk. The doctor and medical staff made the decision to not take the risk. There is no sense in taking that risk and making the problem bigger.”

The Argentine boss will be hopeful his star striker will be fit to face Real Madrid on Wednesday. The reigning European champions travel to Wembley for the fourth match in their Champions League group, two weeks after Spurs took a shock 1-1 draw from the Bernabeu in the reverse fixture.

Words: Oliver Browning | Subbing: Reuben Pinder