Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has said that he is not optimistic regarding the potential return of Harry Kane before the end of the campaign. The England international is currently sidelined with an ankle problem, but there have been suggestions that he could be available for the Champions League final, should Spurs get there.

When asked about the same, Pochettino said that he can offer no assurances regarding the fitness of Kane and the chances are very slim that he will return before the season concludes, he said: “Still we can’t say. We are going to assess him day by day. We are not optimistic but you know Harry Kane – with Harry Kane, all is possible.”

Kane has been Spurs’ leading scorer during the course of the campaign with 24 goals and his absence is sure to leave a void upfront. Nonetheless, Heung-min Son has shown in the past that he can excel in the absence of the England international, but he may require additional assistance from Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura as the club look to end the season on a high.

The north London club are currently third in the league table and they are among the favourites to secure a Champions League spot with just five games remaining. Meanwhile, they have made it to their maiden semi-final in the Champions League where they are scheduled to face Ajax across two legs.

On paper, they are favourites to progress to the final in Madrid, but they need to produce a strong showing, considering Ajax have beaten Juventus and Real Madrid en route to reaching the final four of the competition. The Dutch giants have been a force to reckon with especially on the road, and their tendency to take regular shots should pose fresh questions to the Spurs backline.