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Injuries have hit Spurs hard at times this season. It’s not been often that Mauricio Pochettino has had his first choice squad all available together.
He still won’t have everyone available tomorrow against Watford, but there is good news about one key player’s possible return to the lineup.
Harry Kane is back.
#thfc Poch says Kane will be involved tomorrow: "We'll see tomorrow if he can start the game or be on the bench. He's ready, he feels good."
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) April 7, 2017
Kane has recently returned to full training, and apparently may even be well enough to start tomorrow’s match. He’s shown remarkable determination to recover from his ankle injury as quickly as possible.
Given Poch’s history with fitness related issues, it’s probably more likely that Kane starts on the bench. But Watford will be significantly short-handed defensively, so another few days of rest for Harry would not necessarily be a bad thing.
There’s also some surprising news on the goalkeeper-front.
#thfc Vorm suffered knee injury against Swans & will be assessed before Watford. Lloris will also be assessed after illness. ENTER PAU!
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) April 7, 2017
Vorm didn’t have a save to make against Swansea, but still somehow picked up an injury. And with Hugo’s status uncertain due to illness, we could see Pau Lopez’ debut for Tottenham.
The 22-year-old has yet to play for Spurs since joining on loan from Espanyol. But things should be fine if he sees as much action against Watford as Vorm did against Swansea, which wasn’t much. Still, hopefully Lloris is back and ready to go.
Pochettino said that Victor Wanyama has to be assessed before Watford as well. Wanyama came off injured against Burnley with a lower-back injury.
And finally, there is some less encouraging news about Danny Rose’s status going forward.
#thfc Rose continues rehab & is expected to return to training by the end of this month. Semifinal and NLD looking very unlikely, then.
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) April 7, 2017
Rose has clearly had a set back in his own recovery from injury. He hasn’t appeared for Spurs since the 0-0 draw with Sunderland on January 31st. As our friend Dan Kilpatrick points out, a return to training later this month means that he will almost certainly miss the FA Cup Semifinal, and the North London Derby that follows it.
But it’s encouraging that Harry Kane is so close to being back in the starting 11. Vincent Janssen has done well lately, but no one else in the squad can do what Kane does up top. He’s probably the best striker in the league, and we’ll be a better side with him back in the team.