Harry Kane suffered an ankle injury late on in the Sunderland match after attempting a tackle. According to reports, the scan results indicate he could be out for two months.
Harry Kane Injury Impact on Tottenham
Despite the injury, he still managed to grab the all important winning goal against Sunderland. However, this injury now threatens Kane’s form. Reflecting on last season, he suffered a goal drought until November. This injury could be the cause of another goal drought. In mitigation, he still finished as the Premier League top scorer even after this drought and therefore with proper rehabilitation could come back from injury as strong as ever. A key part of his philosophy is hard work and determination. These two qualities will be very important in overcoming his injury.
Vincent Janssen
As a result of Kane’s injury, Spurs have no choice but to field Janssen. Mauricio Pochettino has backed the striker to step in and get his first Premier League goal. This will be a positive change that allows him more match time. It is hard for any striker to score goals when coming off the bench or inconsistently starting. But for the new signing, it is even more important to get as much Premier League experience under his belt. The impact of the injury can be limited if he is able to step up in Kane’s place. Expect Janssen to see time in the League Cup match against Gillingham tomorrow, as Pochettino will attempt to get him hin good form.
Formation
One major consequence of Kane’s injury is the lack of another first team striker. Although Pochettino deploys his team in a 4-2-3-1, he has switched to a two striker formation when in need of a goal. However, with only Janssen to call upon, switching to a 4-4-2 formation will not be possible. This limits Tottenham’s tactical flexibility, which could be a problem in the following matches.
Heung-Min Son did fill in as a striker last season, although it is clear he is better deployed on the wing after a man-of-the-match performance against Sunderland. He is a great asset on the wing and should not be sacrificed. Instead, Pochettino will have to rely on his wingers in Son, Moussa Sissoko and Erik Lamela to help contribute to the attack.
Main Photo:
