Harry Kane is officially starting in the Champions League Final

Football fans have been waiting for Harry Kane’s status for the Champions League Final to be announced, and the Tottenham Hotspur forward will officially get the start for Lucas Moura against Liverpool.

After being out since April with an ankle injury he suffered in the first leg of Tottenham’s Champions League quarterfinal tie against Manchester City, Harry Kane will take the field for the London-based club in the final against Liverpool. His return to full strength is wonderful news for the club, and it would be quite the story if he played a key role in a Spurs victory.

Kane will replace Lucas Moura in the lineup and work together with Son Heung-min to unlock a stingy Liverpool defense that boasts standout centerbacks Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip. Though it comes as no surprise that Lucas is the one to make way for a fit Kane, it is unfortunate to see the Brazilian out of the lineup after his hat-trick, including a shocking goal in the 96th minute, lifted Tottenham past Ajax to the final. Of course, Lucas could always showcase his late-game heroics again as a substitute, especially if Spurs feel they need him to provide a spark.

With 29 goals and seven assists in 46 appearances across all competitions this season, Kane has remained one of the world’s best strikers. Tottenham managed to get past Manchester City and Ajax without him while finishing fourth in the Premier League to secure Champions League football in 2019-20, but they did miss Kane’s strength and clinical finishing.

While Kane has been deemed fit enough to start in the final against Liverpool, whether or not he’s truly 100 percent will be judged on the pitch. It will be interesting to see how he fares against one of the stiffest challenges possible, as van Dijk will look to keep Kane blanketed. However, all it takes is one lapse or one fortunate opportunity for Kane to convert a crucial goal, and Tottenham have made the most out of their identity as scrappy underdogs in European competition this season.

Liverpool’s own star center forward, Roberto Firmino, will start in the final after questions regarding his status due to a groin injury. But Kane’s return is the bigger storyline, as he’s been out since April. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino kept Kane’s status deliberately guarded in the build-up to Saturday’s final, and all eyes will be on Kane to see if starting him over semifinals hero Lucas was the correct decision.