Yahoo Finance Tottenham injury news: Toby Alderweireld ruled out of Ludogorets and Chelsea games
Out: Toby Alderweireld
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Tottenham will definitely be without Toby Alderweireld for Thursday's Europa League match and the six-pointer at Chelsea on Sunday.
Alderweireld pulled up with a groin injury in Saturday's win over Manchester City and Spurs manager Jose Mourinho afterwards described the problem as "bad".
Scans this week proved inconclusive and there is optimism the injury is not as severe as first feared, although Mourinho is set to provide an update at a press conference today, with Spurs still preparing for a significant period without the centre-half.
Japhet Tanganga, who has only featured once this season due to injury, is in contention for the visit of Bulgarian side Ludogorets but Joe Rodon, who replaced Alderweireld against City, is ineligible in Europe.
After the landmark 2-0 win over City, Mourinho claimed Harry Kane was redefining the centre-forward role after his ninth assist in the Premier League this season, with the England captain surely targeting the competition's record of 20 – shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne.
Kane says his deeper role under Mourinho is nothing new and believes he is reaching his peak as a player.
"There has been a bit more emphasis on me dropping deeper, but it’s just part of my game,” he said.
"I’ve always wanted to defend, always wanted to drop deep and get on the ball. At times, as a number nine, you can get a little lost in games, you can get isolated up front, so I guess it’s my game evolving a little as well, learning how to get involved when you are up against teams that drop deep, things like that.
"The biggest thing for me is that I’ve always had a football brain, I understand the game really well and that’s what people are starting to see. I’m just at that age of my career where I’m reaching my peak and I feel good."
Spurs are continuing to finalise a new contract for Heung-min Son, with optimism the South Korean will agree a long-term deal to take him in line with the club's highest earners.
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