Tim Sherwood: 'Harry Kane will play in Wayne Rooney role'

Tottenham Hotspur boss Tim Sherwood has explained the reasons behind the decision to start Harry Kane in the Europa League tie with Benfica this evening.

Kane has been favoured ahead of Roberto Soldado up top, but Sherwood has claimed that the youngster will be expected to play a more withdrawn role behind Emmanuel Adebayor.

Speaking to ITV Sport, he said: "He's earned the right to play, he's been fantastically patient, and he's been tremendous in training, I see these guys every day in training.

"He won't play off the front though, he'll try but he gives us some extra legs in the middle, in that Rooney-esque number 10 role."

You can catch live commentary of the game here.