Mauricio Pochettino fears Harry Kane could be affected on a psychological level by his ankle injuries. The Tottenham striker suffered ligament damage in the 1-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win at home to Manchester City and Pochettino accepts it will be difficult for him to play again this domestic season.

He said it was possible Kane could be back for the Champions League final on 1 June – should Spurs make it – and England’s opening game at the Nations League finals on 6 June. Kane will see a specialist next week, which ought to clarify the length of absence.

It is the fifth time in three seasons Kane has had an ankle ligament injury and Pochettino was asked whether they represented a serious problem for the player.

“Yes, for sure, it can be an issue,” Pochettino said. “When you suffer once, twice or three times – it’s normal in your head that you will always think about it. But I don’t believe it will be a big problem.”

Kane was injured when he went into a strong challenge on City’s Fabian Delph and ended up coming off worse. It was a needless tackle and, with Kane having received some rough treatment earlier in the game, it was possible to wonder whether temper had got the better of the striker – and, equally, if City had targeted him.

“No, I don’t believe that City made a plan,” Pochettino said. “It’s normal to be tight and tough with him – like us with their players – for me, it was an accident.

“Does Harry need to change the way he plays? It’s true that now we can have an opinion that it was a challenge with not too much need to do but he’s how he is. He’s strong. He wants to challenge for every single ball. He’s Harry Kane because he plays like this.”

Pochettino is unlikely to risk Dele Alli against Huddersfield, after the midfielder broke a hand in two places against City. The hope is Alli can play in Wednesday’s second leg with a protective cast. The manager will rotate his team but with Érik Lamela (hamstring) also injured, his attacking options are restricted.

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