Pochettino says he is certain Harry Kane will play again this season
Thursday 15 March 2018 19:08, UK
Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham cannot use Harry Kane's injury absence as an excuse for not reaching the FA Cup semi-finals and continuing their fine form in the league.
The Spurs striker misses Saturday's quarter-final visit to Swansea and will return to training next month after damaging ankle ligaments during last Sunday's 4-1 win at Bournemouth.
Pochettino admits losing "world-class" Kane at a pivotal stage of the season is a blow, but insists he has plenty of high-quality options to compensate.
The Spurs boss told reporters: "He [Kane] is very positive. He was positive after the game. His character is always to be optimistic and he is positive and he is focused on trying to recover as soon as possible.
"It is no excuse now that Harry is out for a few weeks that we are not going to have the same mentality and try and win the games.
"We are talking about one of the best strikers in the world and you cannot compare [him] with the others [in the squad].
"Of course, we are going to miss Harry because it is obvious he is one of the best. But we are calm and relaxed because we have enough quality to play and win games.
"We have different players that can play in that position, Dele Alli, Son, Fernando Llorente, Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura.
"For me, it is not most important who is in that position but how you are going to use the space and try and overcome the tactics of the opponents. But we have enough quality and different alternatives, and now I have to pick who is best for every single game while Harry is out injured."
Pochettino said "Yes, of course," when asked if he was confident Kane will play again this season but was reluctant to put a date on when the striker is set to to return to action.
"I think we cannot put a day or date for him to start training and participate with the team," he added.
Kane was out for two separate spells last season with injuries to the same ankle but Pochettino does not believe anything more can be done to prevent the 24-year-old from suffering from a recurrence in the future.
"No, (I don't think anything more can be done), because he is a warrior," Pochettino said.
"I think he would put his leg in a washing machine for the team and to try and score. He is so brave and he is a warrior and that is why Harry Kane is Harry Kane."
