Tottenham’s Kane to miss Europa clash with broken nose

Fiorentina will also have to contend without midfielder Mousa Dembele as he has been ruled out with a groin strain.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is set to wear a protective mask because of a broken nose when Premier League football resumes at the weekend, but will miss Thursday night’s Europa League second leg with Fiorentina.

However, Kane did train on Tuesday and Mauricio Pochettino expects that he will return to the squad on Sunday for Tottenham’s game against Swansea.

A regular of the Fiorentina side ever since that move, Badelj in fact came on as a substitute against Spurs in the Europa League last week, playing half an hour as the two sides drew 1-1.

There was better news on goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and winger Erik Lamela, with Pochettino confirming the duo were available following a shoulder problem and illness respectively.

Spurs rely heavily on his goals – Kane has scored 16 in the Premier League this season – and with precious few back-up options a prolonged absence would be a major blow for the club as they challenge for a first domestic league title since 1961.

The mini-run starts with Swansea at home on Sunday, is followed by West Ham away on Wednesday, and finishes with a home north London derby against Arsenal three days later. “The period that we have ahead is very important for us”.

But Pochettino said: “You have to take the game with energy and try to score and win the game from the beginning, not play in your head with the result”.