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Tottenham at Rochdale: 5 Spurs issues to watch

By Rucker Haringey

TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 12: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Tottenham Hotspur FC Training Session ahead of there UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match against Juventus at Allianz Stadium on February 12, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 12: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Tottenham Hotspur FC Training Session ahead of there UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match against Juventus at Allianz Stadium on February 12, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Fernando Llorente of Tottenham Hotspur warms up prior to The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newport County at Wembley Stadium on February 7, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 07: Fernando Llorente of Tottenham Hotspur warms up prior to The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newport County at Wembley Stadium on February 7, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

2. Is there cover for Kane?

As an ardent Tottenham supporter, I fervently hope that Harry Kane isn’t even in the squad for this fixture. That will, of course, put real pressure on whomever Pochettino elects to play in his spot.

I’ve already gone on record predicting that it will be Heung-Min Son. My belief is that Pochettino already realizes Fernando Llorente isn’t capable of doing the job. It is possible, however, that the Spaniard gets one last opportunity today.

No matter who starts the match up top, someone has to prove to Pochettino that he can cover for Kane in a pinch. Tottenham fans hope they don’t have to see anyone but Kane lead the line during an important match, but that’s not reality. He’s going to miss an important match due to injury or illness at some point.

This might present each player’s last opportunity to convince the higher-ups at Spurs that purchasing a new striker in the summer isn’t an absolute necessity. Even if another striker manages to score a goal or two at Rochdale, that’s still likely to happen.

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