Brighton vs Tottenham: Graham Potter backs Jose Mourinho to find solution to Harry Kane injury blow

George Flood29 January 2021

Brighton head coach Graham Potter believes Tottenham counterpart Jose Mourinho will find an answer to the dilemma posed by Harry Kane’s absence this weekend.

Spurs travel to the Amex Stadium on Sunday evening without their attacking talisman, who is sidelined after injuring both ankles during the first half of Thursday’s 3-1 Premier League defeat by Liverpool.

The length of Kane’s absence is yet to be determined, though Mourinho predicted that the England captain - who has had a notable history of ankle injuries - will likely miss “a few weeks” as a result of those latest problems.

Spurs take on Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea in a London derby next Thursday, while a busy February schedule also includes meetings with in-form rivals West Ham and top-flight leaders Manchester City as well as an FA Cup fifth-round contest against Everton and two-legged Europa League last-32 tie against Wolfsberger AC of Austria.

Before all that, Tottenham - who are also without the likes of Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli due to injury - visit the south coast this weekend looking to swiftly bounce back from an error-strewn defeat to Liverpool.

Benfica loanee Carlos Vinicius could be a candidate to replace Kane, while Mourinho has ruled out using Gareth Bale in a central striker role. Heung-min Son is likely to shoulder even greater responsibility with his attacking partner sidelined.

And though Brighton chief Potter knows Tottenham do not have another player of Kane’s quality and skill-set to throw in on Sunday, he is still expecting Mourinho to settle on an effective plan without a player who has scored 14 goals and laid on 13 assists in 26 matches so far this season.

Tottenham talisman Harry Kane is facing weeks on the sidelines with two separate ankle injuries
Liverpool FC via Getty Images

"It would be unfair of me to say they have got another Harry Kane in their group, because he's a top player, the captain, the leader," said Potter.

"It's hard to replace him, they will have to find a different solution of course and the squad that Tottenham have, the skill that Tottenham have, they will find that solution.

"But it won't be a Harry Kane mark II, that's for sure."

Brighton have their own injury issues to contend with for the visit of Spurs, with highly-rated full-back Tariq Lamptey still out along with striker Danny Welbeck.

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