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How will Tottenham cope without Harry Kane?

By Clemente Lisi

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane (centre) battles for the ball with Manchester City's Fabian Delph (left) and Fernandinho during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, first leg match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane (centre) battles for the ball with Manchester City's Fabian Delph (left) and Fernandinho during the UEFA Champions League quarter final, first leg match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images) /
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With Harry Kane injured and potentially out for the season, how will Tottenham play without their star striker?

Tottenham’s victory against Manchester City in the first leg of Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinals was tempered by an ankle injury to striker Harry Kane.

It will now be up to manager Mauricio Pochettino to come up with a Plan B for the second leg and possibly the rest of the season.

The England captain, who was the top scorer at last summer’s World Cup, left Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on crutches and a protective boot on his left ankle.

In January, Kane missed almost two months after damaging ligaments in the same ankle during their 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester United. He also missed a month during last season with a similar injury to his right ankle.

Here are three alternatives Pochettino could look to over the coming weeks.

Using a lone striker

When Kane missed a stretch of games earlier this season, Pochettino was in the midst of a striker shortage since Heung-min Son had departed for the Asian Cup.

Son, who scored the winning goal in the victory against City, is in great form and could play as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 from the diamond-shaped 4-4-2 Pochettino likes to utilize. It’s true that Son is great with Kane playing by his side, but it isn’t essential. When Kane was sidelined in January, Son scored in four straight games before going six without a goal once Kane returned.

While Son is a better winger than a central forward, Pochettino could opt for this formation depending on the health of the rest of his players.

Lucas-Son tandem

Against City, Spurs proved they can win without Kane. Indeed, their record has been pretty good in the past without him in the lineup.

Another option is to replace Kane with Brazilian winger Lucas Moura as a lone striker, with support from Son and Cristian Eriksen. That’s what they did after Kane hobbled off the field and the 4-5-1 formation held up well.

Dele Alli, playing in a withdrawn position behind Lucas, had a strong game once again and also worked very well behind Lucas.

Before his injury, Kane wasn’t playing at the high level we are accustomed to see. It’s true that Spurs would rather have him in the lineup, but Kane scored just four goals in eight contests since returning from his original injury back in February.

Put in Llorente

Another way Tottenham can adapt without Kane is to plug Fernando Llorente in Kane’s spot. With help from Eriksen and Alli, this worked in January for a limited time when Son was playing at the Asian Cup.

The Spaniard did play in some important games during that stretch, but he failed to impress. His lone goal and three assists in 15 Premier League matches (and only one goal and five matches in the Champions League) are a testament to this.

While this remains a remote option, Pochettino has a roster talented enough to deal with Kane’s injury in an attempt to finish well this season.

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