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How Tottenham Hotspur could line up for their first game back

Sports Mole looks at how Tottenham could line up for their first game back after lockdown, with Harry Kane among the players expected to return for Man United's visit.

When it comes to clubs that have benefited most from the three-month stoppage of the Premier League season, Tottenham Hotspur are right up there.

The North Londoners were missing some key players through injury and had gone six games without a win across all competitions prior to lockdown - the worst run of Jose Mourinho's managerial career.

The coronavirus-enforced shutdown could therefore give them the perfect opportunity to reset and get their European push back on track, with a visit from Mourinho's former side Manchester United first up on the weekend of June 19-21.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Spurs could line up for that showdown.



TOTXI

Out: Troy Parrott (appendix)
Doubtful: None

The headline regarding Tottenham's first game back will surround Harry Kane, who initially looked to be in a race against time to feature again this season after suffering a serious hamstring injury on New Year's Day.

The England captain's Euro 2020 chances even looked to be under threat at one stage, but he is now back in training and should be in contention to lead the line for the first game back.

Son Heung-min was also an injury concern prior to lockdown but he too is now ready to feature, fresh from a stint of mandatory national service in his native South Korea.

Steven Bergwijn suffered a sprained ankle in March which could have kept him out for the rest of the season, but as it is he may not miss a single league game, while Moussa Sissoko has also overcome the injury problem which he suffered in the same game as Kane at the start of the year.

Indeed, Tottenham's only injury doubt now is back-up striker Troy Parrott, who has undergone surgery on his appendix and will therefore miss the restart.

Mourinho usually opted for a back three before lockdown came into force, with Jan Vertonghen regularly missing out to Japhet Tanganga as he edges closer to a summer exit on a free transfer.

There will also be intrigue regarding whether Tanguy Ndombele has a significant role to play, with Mourinho publicly criticising the record signing shortly before play was halted.

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Harry Kane in Spurs training on March 9, 2020
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5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
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