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Tottenham v Gillingham preview

Vincent Janssen
Image: Vincent Janssen: Set to start in Kane's absence

Harry Kane will miss Tottenham's EFL Cup third-round tie against Gillingham after damaging ligaments in his right ankle.

Kane's absence means Vincent Janssen is likely to start up front at White Hart Lane and Danny Rose is also out as he recovers from a hamstring problem.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to rotate his starting line-up, meaning Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier are unlikely to be risked after they both suffered from cramp last weekend.

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Mauricio Pochettino confirmed Harry Kane has suffered ankle ligament damage, but refused to put a time frame on the striker's return

Gillingham boss Justin Edinburgh and midfielder Jamie O'Hara are both returning to their former club.

Edinburgh spent 10 years at Spurs between 1990 and 2000, and he won both the League Cup and FA Cup with the north London side.

However O'Hara, who played for Tottenham between 2007 and 2011, is struggling with a heel injury and is unlikely to feature.

Gillingham defender Ryan Jackson is back from suspension and available for the clash while Rory Donnelly has recovered from a knock and is also expected to travel.

Also See:

May 1991:  Eric Thorstvedt, Justin Edinburgh, Gary Mabbutt and Paul Walsh of Tottenham Hotspur celebrate after winning the FA Cup Final at Wembley
Image: Gillingham boss Justin Edinburgh (lifting the FA Cup) will face his former club

Tottenham squad: Lloris, Vorm, Lopez, Walker, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer, Davies, Dier, Wanyama, Carroll, Dembele, Winks, Sissoko, Alli, Lamela, Edwards, Nkoudou, Eriksen, Son, Janssen.

Charlie Nicholas' prediction

Justin Edinburgh coming back to Spurs is an interesting one. His Gillingham side always have a go and I've always liked Edinburgh as a manager.

It looks like Harry Kane is going to be out for some while, so this is an opportunity for Spurs to get Vincent Janssen in the goals, and perhaps get a few youngsters involved.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: Tottenham 4-1 Gillingham, Janssen to score first (30/1 with Sky Bet)

Opta stats

The only previous meeting between Tottenham and Gillingham was also a Round 3 League Cup match, in November 1982. Spurs won 4-2 at Priestfield. 

Tottenham have won four of their last five League Cup matches at White Hart Lane (L1).

Tottenham have been eliminated from just three of their last 12 Round 3 League Cup matches. Two of those defeats were against rivals Arsenal, in 2010 and 2015.

Gillingham last reached Round 3 in 2005, where they were eliminated following a 2-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.

The last time Tottenham were eliminated from the League Cup by a lower ranked side was in the 2005-06 campaign, where they lost 0-1 at Grimsby in the second round.

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