Kane fighting illness for Preston trip as Danjuma prepares for debut
Antonio Conte’s side head to Deepdale on Saturday night for a fourth-round clash against mid-table Championship opposition, hoping to keep alive their hopes of a first trophy triumph since 2008 during a tumultuous period for the club.
Kane would have been hopeful of potentially becoming Tottenham’s outright all-time top scorer in Lancashire having levelled the late, great Jimmy Greaves with his 266th strike in the 1-0 Premier League win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday night.
But the England talisman has now emerged as a potential doubt for the FA Cup tie after seeing his training workload this week restricted by an unspecified illness, though he has still made himself available for the fixture and could have a limited role.
“We only have one problem with Harry, because he played the last game full off illness and he didn’t train during the week,” Spurs assistant Cristian Stellini told reporters at a pre-match press conference on Friday.
Battling through: Harry Kane wants to face Preston despite struggling with an illness
/ Action Images via Reuters“He trained this morning, but he wants to come with us and be available. We know that Harry wants to play every game so we are happy that Harry is available but we have to take care.”
If Kane were to miss out, then his next chance to move clear of Greaves would come in a swift top-flight rematch with Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 5.
Bryan Gil also faces a late fitness test before the meeting with Preston, while Lucas Moura remains sidelined with a tendon injury.
Arnaut Danjuma could make his Tottenham debut after reneging on a switch to struggling Everton at the 11th hour and instead penning a loan deal in north London until the end of the season that includes the option for a permanent summer transfer.
“He is available,” Stellini said of the Dutch winger from Villarreal, Spurs’ first January recruit. “He is a player we can use tomorrow in the game. He is a player that can play like a striker or a winger. He has a lot of positions he can cover. So we are happy and we are looking forward to working with him.”