TOTTENHAM COACH MAURICIO Pochettino is “worried” about the injury suffered by Harry Kane towards the end of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester United.
Spurs were unable to make the most of their second-half superiority at Wembley and succumbed to Marcus Rashford’s first-half strike, with Kane among the players to be kept at bay by an inspired David de Gea in the United net.
The Spain international made 11 saves, including several to keep Kane out, as Spurs were frustrated.
With the hosts piling the pressure on at the end, Kane came off worse in a heavy collision on the edge of the box, leaving him in a heap.
He received medical attention after the full-time whistle, but appeared to be shaking his head and looked concerned as he was helped off the pitch.
Pochettino believes the England striker twisted his ankle in the incident and is worried about the severity of the damage sustained, with Son Heung-min about to leave for Asian Cup duty with South Korea.
We are worried about that, we try to see tomorrow and we hope [it is not too bad],” Pochettino told BBC Sport.
“I think it was in the last action, you can see on your cameras it was a clear foul. I don’t remember who [was involved], but it was a big hit, a foul.
“In that moment he twists his ankle. We hope it’s not a big issue, but if it is, it is a big problem for us.”
Despite the defeat and frustration around Kane’s injury, Pochettino came away from the match impressed with his team, lauding their second-half display as their best 45 minutes since he became coach.
I am so pleased and I’m proud,” he added to Sky Sports. “After four and a half years, the second half was the best performance I have seen Tottenham play.
“It was amazing and I think David de Gea made 11 saves, which is unbelievable. In football, sometimes you deserve to win and don’t and other times, you do not [deserve to win] and you win. That is why we love football.”
The result left Spurs nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool but still with a seven-point gap to fifth-placed Arsenal in the race for Champions League qualification.
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He should be rediscovering his form & fitness with Munster not with the national team. Shouldn’t be a separate rule for him no matter how good he is at his best. Just lowers squad standards….
@ℝ: Who should be in the squad ahead of him, do you think? Marmion is barely back from injury and McGrath is still out for a few more weeks.
@Conor Matthews: Cooney and Blade, the two form Irish scrumhalves by a country mile… and especially for the Italy game. The pace the pair play is perfect for an ireland game to run Italy ragged, and test their fringe defences as unlike Murray both delight at sniping runs at defences. Cooney may be light on Caps but he has loads of experience having played for three provinces and excelled at all…
Yep, no sympathy for Murray or Sexton, thats 2 games they havent performed. Get in the queue and earn your places again boys. And this is why Joe should be rotating the squad more often. Like it was mentioned above, get your game time at the provinces…..and then bring that game to the national team, if youre good enough. Class is permanent, Joe says, yeah but who puts BOD (no disrespect meant) in at 13 these days. Form…form…form
@Trev: sexton was poor v England but he was running the game v Scotland until he got injured. We’d have won by 30 if he’d have stayed on.
@Chris Mc: complete tosh. Apart from the assist to stockdale sexton was bang average. Kicking out of hand was poor and his kick from the tee was embarrassing. He wasn’t as poor as Murray but don’t kid yourself if you think he’s in any better form. Last decent shift sexton put in was against NZ for club and country.
@Chris Mc: yes he got injured, is that your or my fault? No. As the saying goes……youre only as good as your last game. He’s had 2 now, & so has Murray. There is plenty of class waiting in the wings (but thats another discussion)…
Just re-read the headline, that is just pish! Either he can play at the highest level or…he cant. Simple until he gets back up there. But do not waste international minutes on him on the off-chance that he is going to take another 10 or so games to rediscover his form. Same with Sexton….Joe its time to start cracking the whip!!!
@Trev: I think Joe Schmidt will start Sexton and Murray.I also think he should
I’d really like to see the other players get a chance to prove their worth under pressure. What is going to happen in the RWC if a key member gets injured? The tournament is beyond Ireland realistically, so give Carbery etc starting roles. We don’t want a repeat of player burnout before the finals stages
Murray’s been way off it the last number of games ever since Exeter visited Limerick. Hope he rediscovers but can’t be at the expense of Ireland.