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Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham 'Happy' with Harry Kane Fitness for UCL Final

Matt JonesFeatured ColumnistMay 26, 2019

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 23: Mauricio Pochettino head coach / manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur  during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on December 23, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is "happy" with the recovery being made by Harry Kane and a number of other key players, as they seek to get fit for the UEFA Champions League final.

Liverpool and Spurs will meet at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday in what promises to be an absorbing all-English encounter. Tottenham have a number of injury concerns ahead of the game, though, with Kane, Harry Winks and Jan Vertonghen all doubts.

Speaking about the trio, Pochettino said he's content with the progress being made and commented on their ability to make an impression from the bench, per Sam Wallace of the Daily Telegraph:

"We are happy. We are going to assess him like any other player, like Jan, Harry Winks. Of course, the most important thing is that they are available. To play from the beginning or be on the bench and help the team. Because the most important thing in a final is not always the starting XI, maybe people from the bench come on and be the hero. There are a lot of examples of this."

While Kane has long established himself as a goalscoring talisman for Tottenham, they were able to qualify for the final without him available for some crucial games. He wasn't fit for the semi-final second leg with Ajax, as the London club qualified in the most dramatic fashion:

Bleacher Report Live @brlive

LUCAS MOURA FOR THE WIN WHAT A MATCH 😱 https://t.co/vD3BsC3ylV

As ESPN FC's Liam Twomey relayed, the England captain's celebrations in Amsterdam pointed to a player who's likely to be fit for the showpiece final:

Liam Twomey @liam_twomey

Harry Kane sprinted onto the pitch like a man looking forward to the least stringent pre-match fitness test in the history of football #thfc

Given Spurs finished 26 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League in 2018-19, they will go into the final as underdogs. With that in mind, Pochettino will be desperate to get some key players back from injury.

While Kane is a fine focal point up top, Vertonghen has been a colossal figure for Tottenham in defence for many years, and his leadership would be key on such a big stage. Winks is Spurs' most composed midfielder on the ball, a trait that will be vital in what is set to be a frantic game.

The Tottenham Twitter account posted the following clip showing how important the Belgium international has been to the cause:

Tottenham Hotspur @SpursOfficial

🎬 @JanVertonghen's #UCL best bits! ✨ #UCLfinal ⚪️ #COYS https://t.co/oA98689TsI

As for Kane, WhoScored.com noted just how effective he can be when playing away from home:

WhoScored.com @WhoScored

Top Premier League scorers on the road in 2018/19: 🥇 Harry Kane - 11 🥈 Jamie Vardy - 10 🥉 Callum Wilson - 9 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Football's coming (away from) home... https://t.co/VmCtacjLpH

If the England striker is fully fit, Pochettino has a big decision to make. While he would be tempted to bring in Kane for his first match since April, it would mean dropping Heung-Min Son, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli or Lucas Moura, all of whom played a big part in the semi-final success.

Still, in what promises to be a tight encounter, having players like Kane and Winks on the bench would be a big boost. As Spurs academy graduates, they will be desperate to play their parts in the biggest game in the club's history