Mauricio Pochettino has tackled most of his challenges as Tottenham manager impressively, but the forthcoming weeks will provide a huge test of his skill.

Last season’s surprise title charge, which subsided at the crucial moment but still delivered automatic Champions League qualification, was built heavily on two outfield players: Toby Alderweireld in defence and Harry Kane in attack.

While Kane scored the goals — 28 in all competitions — Alderweireld’s excellence prevented several at the other end. Spurs let in nine goals in their final three Premier League games as their title push imploded but, before that, they conceded only 26 times in their first 35 League matches.

Neither Kane nor Alderweireld missed a single Premier League fixture — a remarkable achievement for two such important players, in a team playing at such high intensity. Pochettino and his staff deserve credit, too, for a training and recovery programme that ensured both men were able to stay injury-free.

Suddenly, the landscape has changed, with neither player currently available. While Tottenham are cautiously optimistic about the knee injury Alderweireld suffered in the 1-1 draw at West Brom, the Belgian has not travelled to Germany for tomorrow’s match against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. It is exactly the kind of game in which Alderweireld’s experience and class are needed.

Even if Alderweireld has not damaged ligaments, he would have to make a remarkable recovery to play in the weekend trip to Bournemouth, the EFL Cup match at Liverpool or the home fixture against Leicester.

In Pictures: West Brom vs Tottenham | 15/10/2016 12 show all In Pictures: West Brom vs Tottenham | 15/10/2016 1/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Dele Alli celebrates after rescuing a point in the final minute of normal time Andrew Boyers/ Reuters 2/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Mauricio Pochettino and Tony Pulis greet each other ahead of the game Getty Images 3/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 The players emerge from the tunnel at The Hawthorns Michael Regan/Getty Images 4/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli battle for the ball in the first period Michael Regan/Getty Images 5/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Dele Alli shields the ball from Darren Fletcher Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images 6/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Dele Alli goes close as Tottenham heap the pressure on in the first period Michael Regan/Getty Images 7/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Christian Eriksen was reduced to long-range efforts against a well-drilled West Brom defence Michael Regan/Getty Images 8/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Erik Lamela tries to win back possession Getty Images 9/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Nacer Chadli refuses to celebrate after scoring against his former club Getty Images 10/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 West Brom players celebrate after Chadli's late strike Getty Images 11/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Dele Alli shows great composure to snatch a late point Getty Images 12/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 The England international wheels away to celebrate Getty Images 1/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Dele Alli celebrates after rescuing a point in the final minute of normal time Andrew Boyers/ Reuters 2/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Mauricio Pochettino and Tony Pulis greet each other ahead of the game Getty Images 3/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 The players emerge from the tunnel at The Hawthorns Michael Regan/Getty Images 4/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli battle for the ball in the first period Michael Regan/Getty Images 5/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Dele Alli shields the ball from Darren Fletcher Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images 6/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Dele Alli goes close as Tottenham heap the pressure on in the first period Michael Regan/Getty Images 7/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Christian Eriksen was reduced to long-range efforts against a well-drilled West Brom defence Michael Regan/Getty Images 8/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Erik Lamela tries to win back possession Getty Images 9/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Nacer Chadli refuses to celebrate after scoring against his former club Getty Images 10/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 West Brom players celebrate after Chadli's late strike Getty Images 11/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 Dele Alli shows great composure to snatch a late point Getty Images 12/12 West Brom 1 Tottenham 1 The England international wheels away to celebrate Getty Images

While Eric Dier and Kevin Wimmer would be capable replacements, neither is as good as Alderweireld, nor shares his understanding with Jan Vertonghen.

As for Kane, Pochettino expects the striker to resume training outdoors this week, although Spurs will not offer — at least in public — a possible return date. The 23-year-old could be in contention for the derby at Arsenal on November 6, but there are five matches between now and then.

Players like Alderweireld and Kane resolve tight games in their team’s favour. Their absence makes Spurs more vulnerable, though they have coped admirably without Kane so far, winning three and drawing one of their four matches since he was injured.

So who will step up? Dier, who Pochettino admitted had been short on confidence during the early weeks of the season, has a chance to show his qualities at centre-back. Elsewhere, Mousa Dembele is regaining fitness although, as the season progresses, Dele Alli is accepting increasing responsibility.

The England midfielder has been on target in each of Tottenham’s last two matches — the draw at West Brom and the 2-0 win over Manchester City — with a 4-1-4-1 formation giving him greater licence to find scoring positions.

It is apparent, too, that Pochettino is demanding more from the 20-year-old. Last season, the Argentine praised Alli almost unconditionally. Even when he transgressed, Pochettino would usually defend him in public, highlighting his youth.

In Pictures | Harry Kane joins Premier League 100 club 66 show all In Pictures | Harry Kane joins Premier League 100 club 1/66 Harry Kane's first 100 Premier League goals, relived Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 2/66 vs Sunderland (April 7 2014) Getty Images 3/66 vs WBA (April 12 2014) Getty Images 4/66 vs Fulham (April 19 2014) Getty Images 5/66 vs Aston Villa (November 2 2014) Getty Images 6/66 vs Hull City (November 23 2014) Getty Images 7/66 vs Swansea (December 14 2014) Getty Images 8/66 vs Burnley (December 20 2014) Getty Images 9/66 vs Leicester (December 26 2014) Getty Images 10/66 vs Chelsea x 2 (January 1 2015) Getty Images 11/66 vs Crystal Palace (January 10 2015) Getty Images 12/66 vs West Brom x 2 (January 31 2015) Getty Images 13/66 vs Arsenal x 2 (February 10 2015) Getty Images 14/66 vs Liverpool (February 10 2015) Getty Images 15/66 vs West Ham (February 22 2015) Getty Images 16/66 vs QPR x 2 (March 7 2015) Getty Images 17/66 vs Leicester x 3 (March 21 2015) Getty 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Huddersfield x2 (September 30 2017) AFP/Getty Images 57/66 vs Liverpool x2 (October 28 2017) Getty Images 58/66 vs West Brom (November 25 2017) Getty Images 59/66 vs Leicester (November 28 2017) Getty Images 60/66 vs Stoke x2 (December 9 2017) Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 61/66 vs Burnley x3 (December 23 2017) Getty Images 62/66 vs Southampton x3 (December 26 2017) Getty Images 63/66 vs Everton x2 (January 13 2018) Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 64/66 vs Southampton (January 21 2017) Getty Images 65/66 vs Liverpool (February 4 2018) Getty Images 66/66 vs Arsenal (February 10 2018) AP 1/66 Harry Kane's first 100 Premier League goals, relived Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images 2/66 vs Sunderland (April 7 2014) Getty Images 3/66 vs WBA (April 12 2014) Getty Images 4/66 vs Fulham (April 19 2014) Getty Images 5/66 vs Aston Villa (November 2 2014) Getty Images 6/66 vs Hull City (November 23 2014) Getty Images 7/66 vs Swansea (December 14 2014) Getty Images 8/66 vs Burnley (December 20 2014) Getty Images 9/66 vs Leicester (December 26 2014) Getty Images 10/66 vs Chelsea x 2 (January 1 2015) Getty Images 11/66 vs Crystal Palace (January 10 2015) Getty Images 12/66 vs West Brom x 2 (January 31 2015) Getty Images 13/66 vs Arsenal x 2 (February 10 2015) Getty Images 14/66 vs Liverpool (February 10 2015) Getty Images 15/66 vs West Ham (February 22 2015) Getty Images 16/66 vs QPR x 2 (March 7 2015) Getty Images 17/66 vs Leicester x 3 (March 21 2015) Getty Images 18/66 vs Newcastle (April 19 2015) Getty Images 19/66 vs Everton (May 24 2015) Getty Images 20/66 vs Manchester City (September 2015) Getty Images 21/66 vs Bournemouth x 3 (October 25 2015) Getty Images 22/66 vs Aston Villa (November 2 2015) Getty Images 23/66 vs Arsenal (November 8 2015) Getty Images 24/66 vs West Ham x 2 (November 22 2015) Getty Images 25/66 vs Southampton (December 19 2015) Getty Images 26/66 vs Norwich x 2 (December 26 2015) Getty Images 27/66 28/66 vs Sunderland (January 16 2016) 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vs Liverpool (February 4 2018) Getty Images 66/66 vs Arsenal (February 10 2018) AP

Yet, as well as praising Alli’s late equaliser at West Brom, Pochettino highlighted the chance he wasted in the first half. The message is clear: Alli is no longer a youngster who is performing above expectations in his debut season in the top flight. He is a high-level Premier League player and will be evaluated accordingly, not least by his manager.

At least Alli is setting his sights high. Asked about becoming his team’s inspiration from midfield, in the way Steven Gerrard was for Liverpool for many seasons, Alli said: “He is a hero of mine and to put me in the same category as someone like that is an honour. I have to try to do as well as I can for the team.

“With the 4-1-4-1 formation, you play with a few players in the space just behind the centre-forward, so I’m not isolated there. I have a bit more space to work in and I can be higher up the pitch.

“Our strikers have great movement, so it gives me a chance to get beyond them or have space to shoot. I like scoring goals and being in those positions, so it is important for me to keep doing that.”

Pochettino is expected to restore Heung-min Son, who has been in excellent form, to the starting XI against Leverkusen.

Spurs signed the South Korean from the German club for £22million in 2015 but only now is he showing why they were prepared to pay such a high sum. Pochettino’s dilemma is whether to play him as the sole striker — a tactic that worked to great effect against City — or keep faith with Vincent Janssen and use Son on the left, leaving out Erik Lamela or Moussa Sissoko.

The competition for attacking spots is ferocious, with Alli, Son, Sissoko, Lamela, Dembele and Christian Eriksen chasing four places. If Pochettino will find it difficult to keep everybody happy, his life will feel considerably easier when he has both Kane and Alderweireld available.