Fulham host Spurs live on Sky Sports Premier League from 3.30pm on Sunday
Sunday 20 January 2019 14:24, UK
Mauricio Pochettino is adamant Tottenham can cope without injured striker Harry Kane, starting with Sunday's Premier League clash at Fulham.
Kane is not scheduled to return to training until early March after suffering ankle ligament damage towards the end of a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.
However, the World Cup Golden Boot winner has a track record of returning ahead of schedule from injuries and Pochettino hinted that could be the case once more.
Spurs face huge games against Chelsea on February 27 and Arsenal on March 2 in the Premier League and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
"Harry is a very positive person, the moment he got injured he started thinking about recovering as soon as possible," said Pochettino on Friday. "When he is one of the best strikers in Europe it is going to affect performances.
"We are positive, we can cope and we have players who can cover his position. It won't affect our approach to the games."
As for their struggling opponents at Craven Cottage this weekend, Fulham have been boosted by the arrival of former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel this week.
The 32-year-old Holland international, signed from Besiktas, is set to go straight into the squad to face Spurs.
"I hope Ryan can bring his experience and strength, he's a quality player who can score some goals because we need goals, and of course I hope he can adapt to our football as soon as possible," said manager Claudio Ranieri.
"I am happy because he played for Liverpool and he knows the Premier League very well.
"He's not fit 100 per cent so I must choose if we start with him or during the match."
Babel will be added to the Fulham squad for the visit of Tottenham, but Alfie Mawson and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa are both still out injured.
Tottenham are without Kane (ankle) and Moussa Sissoko (groin) after the duo were both injured against United last Sunday and are out for two months and two weeks respectively.
Heung-Min Son is on international duty with South Korea at the Asian Cup, Lucas Moura is back training on the grass, but his knee injury will keep him out, while Eric Dier (appendicitis) could be involved in the squad.
Before the Kane news, this game would have been a foregone conclusion. However, it's a different story now. Fulham have every chance.
Spurs have lost so many goals from their team with Kane and Heung-Min Son, plus Moussa Sissoko is also missing - I'm not his biggest fan but he's been strong this season.
Fulham could get something....but I'm leaning just towards Spurs.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
