Harry Kane injury absence is unlikely to produce an extended first-team chance for Fernando Llorente, who is set to be made available for transfer this summer.

Llorente was bought as back-up to Kane, who sustained an ankle injury in the 4-1 win at Bournemouth on Sunday and is awaiting news of the severity of the damage. Yet Erik Lamela appears far more likely to take Kane’s place in the starting XI at Swansea on Saturday.

Kane did not undergo a planned scan yesterday as his right ankle was too swollen but greater clarity on the matter was expected today or tomorrow after the injury had been assessed.

The 24-year-old was originally upbeat but some sources believe the problem is similar to the one suffered against Sunderland last season, which ruled Kane out for six weeks, missing 10 games.

A similar lay-off would cause Kane to be absent for the rest of this month and much of next, although Spurs stress it is too early to be definite.

When Llorente was signed from Swansea last August, he was supposed to take some of the strain from Kane.

But before his hat-trick against Rochdale in the FA Cup fifth-round replay last month, Llorente had managed only two goals in 26 games. Recently, he has not even made the bench.

The form of Heung-min Son, who has seven goals in his last four matches, makes him the ideal candidate to play as a striker, with Lamela behind.