Tuesday 20 September 2016 21:53, UK
Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Harry Kane suffered ankle ligament damage in Tottenham's 1-0 win over Sunderland - but has refused to speculate on how long the striker will be out.
Kane suffered the injury midway through the second half of Sunday's victory - which lifted Spurs to third in the Premier League after an unbeaten start to the season - and will end his run of 71 consecutive starts in the league.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday's EFL Cup clash with Gillingham, Pochettino said: "He [Kane] has injured his ankle ligaments. We will continue to assess him every day but don't want to put a time-frame on it."
"Today it's impossible to give a time for a recovery. I am not a doctor. I can only explain what the doctors said to me.
"He is in a very good mood. We chatted before in the restaurant, he's in a very good way. There are different rumours, we cannot guess whether it's eight weeks, 10, four, one. It's impossible to assess today and know how long."
Reports have suggested the England international could be out for eight weeks and if he does not return until the end of November, the 23-year-old will miss eight Premier League games, including three London derbies against Arsenal, West Ham and Chelsea in November and four Champions League games.
Kane also looks certain to be absent for England's World Cup qualifying encounters at home to Malta and away to Slovenia next month.
The player himself tweeted on Tuesday afternoon: "Injuries are never nice but part of the game - working hard to get fit as soon as possible! Will be cheering on the lads while I recover."
Kane's absence will be keenly felt by Pochettino with the striker scoring 47 goals in 71 starts, 34 more than any other Spurs player in that time, with new signing Vincent Janssen likely to be tasked with a starting role up front.
The Netherlands striker, who scored 27 goals for AZ Alkmaar last season, has only started once for Spurs in the league this season and is yet to score, although was instrumental in helping earn a point at Everton on the opening day of the season and has impressed in his all-round play.
"Vincent arrives in a good moment - he's ready to compete," added Pochettino.
"You can see his qualities. It's always difficult when you don't have an opportunity to play - strikers are always excited to play and sometimes feel the pressure.
"Now he needs to be calm and he has an opportunity tomorrow to compete."
Heung-Min Son is another option for Pochettino. The South Korean has been in good form on the left wing for Spurs, putting in a man-of-the-match display on Sunday, but did play as a lone striker on occasion last season.
Tottenham's next league game is a trip to Middlesbrough before they take on CSKA Moscow in the Champions League next Tuesday.
