Glenn Hoddle has admitted that Harry Kane provided him with an injury scare as Tottenham Hotspur recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
As Brighton were trying to bang down Tottenham’s resilient and tactically sound defence towards the end of the game, Kane was involved in a possibly game-changing moment.
The Spurs striker dived in front of a shot and blocked a possible shot at Hugo Lloris’ goal, but with it, he ended up limping off with an injury because of the hit he took to his ankle.
The England captain was replaced by Oliver Skipp in the dying moments of the game, but shared after the match that there was nothing to worry about.
Spurs legend Hoddle was delighted to hear that news, as he admitted that he initially felt that the previously injury-prone star had ‘twisted his ankle’.
Former Tottenham man Darren Bent also added how you have to be ‘careful’ with Kane given his previous injury record, especially around the ankle area, as he told Premier League Productions (08/10/22 at 7:40 pm).
Bent on Kane’s late tackle: “You have to be careful with him. He spent a lot of time out, during past seasons, with an ankle injury. But he was putting his body on the line there. But he put his ankle there and hopefully he will be okay.”
Hoddle added: “Particularly the ankle (area). I think he does well for the team because that could end up in the top corner.
“I think is it Mac Allister who is lining up to hit it? He knows he is going to get there first and he knows he’s going to get whacked. Just gets his toes there first.
“When I saw it from behind I thought ‘wow, I think he’s turned that. He has twisted it’. But he was jogging and he is saying he’s ‘okay’, which is great news for Tottenham.”
CONTE HAS TO MANAGE KANE’S WORKLOAD
Antonio Conte has rotated his forward line quite a lot this season, with Son Heung-min, Richarlison and the currently injured, Dejan Kulusevski all warming the bench, at some point.
The only man to not be dropped or rested to the bench has been Kane, but Conte has to manage his workload sooner rather than later.
It’s not easy because Spurs have some huge Champions League games coming up, starting with Frankfurt’s visit to north London next week.
But with the heavy fixture load set to hit English football, ahead of the 2022 World Cup next month, Kane needs his rest somehow or someway.
Whether that’s resting him for a Premier League game or giving him 60 minutes only during these next few weeks, he surely can’t continue with his type of workload, especially given that he will be expected to play every single minute for Gareth Southgate in Qatar.
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