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Tottenham have real incentive NOT to play Harry Kane against Arsenal

By Rucker Haringey

ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Harry Kane speaks with manager Mauricio Pochettino and his assistant Jesus Perez during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group E match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 1, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
ENFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Harry Kane speaks with manager Mauricio Pochettino and his assistant Jesus Perez during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group E match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 1, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham have a big decision regarding Harry Kane

Every diehard Tottenham fan on Earth is desperate to see Harry Kane back out on the pitch for Spurs. The club’s collective fan base has had their hopes lifted today with news that the England man is back on the training ground. However, Mauricio Pochettino may have a huge reason to leave him out of the lineup against Arsenal on Sunday.

Despite the fact that Danny Rose has called the upcoming North London Derby a “must win” for Spurs, the reality is that the Premier League season is a marathon, not a sprint. Tottenham need Kane to be fit for the rest of the season, not one match in November.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t a hugely important match though. Tottenham can’t afford to fall too far behind their North London rivals. Spurs will need to top the Gunners if they want to remain relevant in the Premier League title discussion.

Certainly a fit Harry Kane would increase the club’s chances of winning the match. However, don’t be surprised if Pochettino elects to leave Kane out of the matchday squad. The Argentine manager will be very tempted to give his striker a little more time to fully recover.

In particular, Pochettino knows that involving Kane against Arsenal makes him eligible for England to select him for their next two World Cup qualifying matches. The last thing anyone at Tottenham wants is for Kane to suffer a relapse of some sort while playing for England.

On the other hand, if Pochettino claims that Kane isn’t fit enough to be involved in the North London Derby, he could buy Kane another significant stretch of rest. If he isn’t involved for England’s next two matches, he’d certainly be able to resume his starting role for Tottenham after the upcoming International Break.

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It’s possible that England would select Kane even if he isn’t involved against the Gunners, but that might strain the national team’s relationship with Spurs. Don’t forget that Gareth Southgate needs to remain on good terms with the club because of the other four Tottenham regulars that frequently inhabit his starting XI. Starting a row with Pochettino over Kane wouldn’t be worth the trouble for England in the long haul.

Tottenham fans will want to see Harry Kane on the pitch against Arsenal this weekend if at all possible. Just remember, if he sits it preserves the Spurs striker for what should be a wild finish to the Premier League campaign. The possibility of earning Kane more rest may be just high enough to convince Pochettino to leave him out this weekend.

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