Tottenham banking on Kane to keep them in contention

Reuters: Tottenham Hotspur are hoping England striker Harry Kane’s return to fitness and immediate scoring form will help keep their Champions League Group E hopes alive when they visit AS Monaco on Tuesday.

The London side have lost both of their home games so far, to leaders Monaco and then second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.

The Germans now sit two points above them after winning 1-0 at Wembley on Matchday Four, and Spurs badly need to make up ground this week.

They got a boost in the Premier League at home to local rivals West Ham United on Saturday, turning a 2-1 deficit into an unlikely 3-2 victory when Kane, only recently returned from injury, scored twice in the last few minutes.

“It’s a must-win game (in Monaco) and this gives us a big high to go out there and win,” Kane told BT Sport after his dramatic double at White Hart Lane.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino added: “The last month has been tough for us and it’s fantastic to discover that feeling again for the games ahead.

“The first is a game we must win against Monaco and it’s for that reason we need to have the mentality and feeling that we can go to Monaco and win.” Tottenham remain the only unbeaten side in the Premier League, although six draws in their 12 games means they are only fifth in the table, albeit four points behind the leaders. Monaco are second in Ligue 1, three points off the pace, after a comfortable 3-0 victory at Lorient. Colombia striker Radamel Falcao continued his fine run with another goal for the principality side and, after hapless spells with Manchester United and Chelsea, would love to remind doubting English fans of his quality. He scored twice in the last Champions League fixture, an easy 3-0 win against CSKA Moscow, which followed two draws and a 2-1 win in their opening game at Spurs. Bernardo Silva and Lemar scored in the first half-an-hour against Tottenham while Pochettino’s side were still adjusting to Wembley, where they are playing Champions League games as they start construction of a new stadium at White Hart Lane. The French side now need only a repeat of last season’s draw at home to Spurs in the Europa League to qualify for the knockout stage with a game to spare.

Kane confirms in talks to extend Spurs contract

Reuters: Striker Harry Kane has confirmed he is in talks to sign an improved contract with Tottenham Hotspur and reiterated that he has no intention of agitating for a transfer away from his boyhood club.

Kane, the league’s top scorer last season, has struggled with an ankle injury for a part of the current campaign, making seven Premier League appearances so far, but made a scoring return against in the north London derby Arsenal on 6 November.

He followed that up with two late goals to give his side a 3-2 home win over West Ham United on Saturday, keeping Spurs fifth in the table, a point behind Arsenal.

“I am happy at the club and want to be here for a long, long time,” Kane, whose current contract runs till June 2020, told British media.

“We are in talks and I’m sure we will get something sorted. I’m not panicking and I’m not demanding anything as I’ve read in the paper.

“We’re having a conversation and I have no doubts that we will get it sorted. As I say, I want to be here for a long time and I am sure I will be.”

Tottenham travel to take on Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday, before a visit to league leaders Chelsea on Saturday for their third London derby in a row.