Mauricio Pochettino admits Harry Kane may be rested for Tottenham’s Europa League match against Monaco today while Mousa Dembele is definitely out as he is sick.
Dembele missed training yesterday after coming down with a stomach bug and key players like Kane could also sit out the clash given Spurs are already through to the knock-out stages.
A draw against Monaco will ensure Pochettino’s side finish first in the group, which would also guarantee them a seeding going into the last 32.
Kane, however, has played in all of Tottenham’s 21 fixtures so far this season and endured a hectic summer, after going to Australia on the club’s post-season tour and then playing for England’s Under-21s.
“Is it a chance to rest him? Maybe yes,” Pochettino said.
“He is in the squad but it is true we need to assess him and decide the starting 11.”
Pochettino has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes in the Europa League so far and suggested he will retain a number of core players again.
“There may be one or two more changes but not much,” Pochettino said.
“I think the squad we have is strong enough to compete in different competitions but maybe if you compare (the team) to the game against Qarabag there will be some changes, but not too much.”