Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 7y

Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld close to Spurs return - Pochettino

LONDON -- Tottenham Hotspur pair Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld could be fit for Wednesday's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen or the upcoming north London derby, according to Mauricio Pochettino.

The Spurs manager ruled the pair out of Saturday's visit of Leicester City in the Premier League but he said they could return at Wembley or in Sunday's match at Arsenal.

Kane has not played since being stretchered off against Sunderland on Sept. 18 -- and Spurs have scored just six goals in as many matches in the league and Champions League since -- while Alderweireld has missed three matches with nerve damage to his knee.

"It's difficult to know. We'll see," Pochettino told a news conference, when asked when Kane would return. "His evolution is great so over the next few days, we'll assess. Maybe he is available Wednesday. If not, Sunday. And if not, we need to wait two weeks [until after the international break]. [Toby is] the same as Harry. We'll see."

Asked about the duo's state of mind, Pochettino said: "They are not frustrated. We don't like to use that word. They feel very well, they are working very hard.

"They suffer a lot but they want to be available quickly because we kill them! When they are injured, it's a double session every day and they suffer a lot to keep fit. It's a good thing to say 'come on, wake up and work hard.' But they are very positive. It was bad luck in the way we got the injuries but you cannot accelerate the process in your body sometimes.

"They are positive, they are not frustrated about that. It's true all players want to play as soon as possible but sometimes it's not possible.

"It's always tough to play four games away -- travel, tiredness, different competitions. When you play against very physical teams like we have, it's always difficult. But that's the competition. It doesn't wait for us, it doesn't wait for anybody. We need to adapt quickly to the competition."

In Alderweireld's absence, Eric Dier has impressed Pochettino at centre-half and the manager said the Belgian is not guaranteed to return to the first team when he is fit.

"Nobody owns a place," he said. "He [Dier] is playing centre-back. It's not Toby's place. One thing is to be fit, another is to perform well, a third is to be in good shape to play. Football is present and about desire. Dier is playing well. I'm happy with him and maybe it's for Toby to take his place again. Football is about taking opportunities."

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