Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho explains picking Harry Kane for West Brom showdown
Tottenham: Mourinho gives team news for West Brom clash
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has explained his decision to start Harry Kane in his side’s Premier League clash with West Brom on Sunday. The England international has been missing since the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at the end of January. And he’s now returned from an ankle injury.
Tottenham have struggled since Kane was sidelined.
They’ve won just one Premier League match since the turn of the year – against Sheffield United – and go up against West Brom sorely in need of all three points.
Kane has been deployed right from the start against Sam Allardyce’s side, in a development that’s taken fans by surprise.
And Mourinho has now opened up on his decision, saying: “We had immediately good news after the injury knowing it was not as difficult as we initially feared but he recovered very, very well.
“He’s confident and feels absolutely fine and, of course, he is a fundamental player for us.”
THINK YOU KNOW SPORT? Test your sporting knowledge with our tricky quiz
We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.
Mourinho wants Tottenham to win to silence their critics and the ‘negativity’ surrounding the club.
“We hope we can win the match and finish that negative cycle of results – it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“In this moment myself and my players are positive.
DON’T MISS
Manchester United ‘buzzing’ about Pellistri and Diallo
Tottenham star Son Heung-min ‘would consider Real Madrid move’
Liverpool saw three deadline day deals fail before sealing Ozan Kabak transfer
“Of course we couldn’t work much on the pitch because we played two days ago.
“But I believe the boys are in the right frame of mind to face such a difficulty and important match.”
Kane has been selected despite former Leeds defender Danny Mills urging Mourinho not to rush his star striker back.
“We’ve seen Harry Kane come very quickly from injuries in the past and it hasn’t always worked,” he told Football Insider.
“The medical team are superb. Premier League medical staff these days are some of the best around and are absolutely brilliant.
“They’ve got to protect Harry and they know that and it’s vitally important they do so.
“When he’s ready to return he will and we’ve seen him have remarkable recoveries in the past but he’s not quite been fit and that’s a little bit of a problem.
“Obviously now when you look at it he’s only had a couple of weeks out so if he’s recovered and responded very, very well and if he’s fit, has trust in himself and looks good in training then, that’s remarkable and Mourinho is going to play him.”
There’s no place for Gareth Bale in Tottenham’s starting XI today.
And Paul Merson thinks the Wales international is a shadow of his usual self, saying: “If I’m the manager and he knocks on my door, I don’t know when I’d stop laughing.
“Honestly, I’d think he’s knocking on my door to ask where the best place is to park because he can’t be knocking on the door to say he should be playing.
“He hasn’t done anything to suggest that.
“He was a great player. I don’t like using great loosely, but he was top draw.
“He was a real good player, but he looks an absolute shadow of that now.”
Source: Read Full Article