Pro Pundits

Can we rely on Spurs’ FPL assets without injured Harry Kane in the side?

Fantasy Premier League managers and Tottenham Hotspur fans alike are eagerly waiting for Harry Kane‘s (£11.1m) return from his latest ankle injury.

Watching the striker go down clutching that part of his leg has filled most of us with dread for several years now and we are already seeing some of the impact his absence has had on Jose Mourinho’s men.

At the very least, this time around, the latest news coming out of the Spurs camp does seem more positive than the last two injuries Kane suffered.

“The news is pretty good news. On the day of the Liverpool game, [we had] no idea. Then the next day we were thinking about three weeks, something like that. I do not want to be super optimistic but Harry is optimistic. He has the experience of some injuries in ankles and in Harry’s mind it is a couple of weeks, so let’s see if he is right.”

Jose Mourinho

However, even the most hopeful of Fantasy managers and Spurs fans don’t expect to see Kane back for at least another couple of FPL Gameweeks. The Spurs chatter suggests that the Manchester City game in Gameweek 24 might be the first time we see Kane pull on that trusty number 10 jersey again.

Either way, we cannot rely on him in the short-term but the question on many a Fantasy manager’s lips is what his absence means for his colleagues, especially the highly-popular and capable asset Son Heung-min (£9.7m).

Spurs without Kane in the past

Which FPL forward should we choose to replace Harry Kane?

Many of you will remember this sort of injury has happened before with Kane. On New Year’s Day at Southampton last season, he was substituted with ankle pain and did not return to Spurs’ first-team for 90 days.

It was only due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that he saw any further action at the end of 2019/20, making it back for Spurs’ first game of Project Restart against Manchester United.

Back in April 2019, Kane was out for 51 days with a ligament injury. In January 2019 he missed 40 days with an ankle injury. In March 2018 he missed 20 days with another ankle injury and in the 2016/17 season missed 73 days in total as a result of an ankle injury.

So we do have plenty of data to draw on when Spurs don’t have Kane although some of the circumstances have changed since his previous injury.

Spurs without Kane in 2019

CompetitionOppositionScorelineGoalsAssists
FA Cup
(3rd round)
Middlesborough (a)1-1 (D)MouraAurier
PLLiverpool (h)0-1 (L)
FA Cup
(3rd round R)
Middlesborough (h)2-1 (W)Lo Celso
Lamela
PLWatford (a)0-0 (D)
PLNorwich (h)2-1 (W)Dele
Son
Aurier
Dele
FA Cup
(4th round)
Southampton (a)1-1 (D)SonLamela
PLManchester City (h)2-0 (W)Bergwijn
Son
Moura
Ndombele
FA Cup
(4th round R)
Southampton (h)3-2 (W)Stephens (OG)
Son (pen)
Moura
Ndombele
Dele
PLAston Villa (a)3-2 (W)Alderweireld
Son (x2) (pen)
Bergwijn
Dier
UEFA CLLeipzig (h)0-1 (L)
PLChelsea (a)2-1 (L)Rudiger (OG)Lamela
PLWolves (a)2-3 (L)Bergwijn
Aurier
Aurier
Dele
FA Cup
(5th round)
Norwich1-1 (D)VertonghenLo Celso
PLBurnley1-1 (D)Dele (pen)Lamela

All Spurs fans will tell you how important Kane is to the success of the Spurs’ team.

However, back in the 2019/20 season it was maybe less concerning than it is right now. While Kane’s absence was felt, there were enough big performances and goal involvements from the rest of the side that Spurs continued to do well without him.

When you look at the games Kane missed in all competitions between January and Project Restart, the rest of the Spurs squad chipped in with their fair share of goal involvements.

  • Dele Alli (7.4m) provided two goals and three assists
  • Lucas Moura (6.6m) two goals, one assist
  • Eric Lamela (5.7m) one goal, three assists
  • Giovani Lo Celso (6.9m) one goal, one assist
  • Heung-Min Son (9.7m) six goals
  • Steven Bergwijn (7.0m) two goals, one assist
  • Tanguy Ndombele (5.9m) two assists

Even the defenders contributed with two goals and four assists between them.

However, since Kane left the field at half time against Liverpool in Gameweek 20, Spurs have failed to score. This, in part, should not be, and is not unexpected.

Over the course of the 2019/20 season the Kane was, not unexpectedly, Spurs’ top goal scorer however his team mates contributed too:

  • Kane – 24 goals in all competitions
  • Son – 18 goals in all competitions
  • Dele – 9 goals in all competitions
  • Moura – 7 goals in all competitions
  • Bergwijn – 3 goals in all competitions
  • Alderweireld – 2 goals in all competitions

However, over the course of the 2020/21 season so far the rest of the Spurs team have contributed far less to the number of goals the team have scored.

While Son and Kane are both on target to beat their goal totals from last season with 16 and 19 goals (in all competitions) respectively, they are providing 58% of the goals in all competitions and this increases to 70% of Premier League goals scored this season.

With Ndombele and Aurier the only other Spurs players to register more than one goal this season, Kane missing from the Spurs starting XI is likely to be a lot more costly this season than it was last. Furthermore, when you couple the loss of his assists as well, Spurs are decidedly short in attack without him.

Spurs without Kane in Gameweek 21

This is a massive worry for Son owners.

Son was the second-most transferred-out player ahead of Gameweek 22 with 276,748 managers saying goodbye to FPL’s third-highest point-scorer. At the time of writing, only Kane has been sold by more Fantasy managers.

With a tough match at home to Chelsea in Gameweek 21, followed by West Brom and then Manchester City, more Son sales look inevitable unless Mourinho can find the right balance for his Kane-free side.

During the second half of the Brighton game, things did improve for Spurs when Carlos Vinicius (6.9m) was introduced. The benefit of a target man in the Spurs side was noticeable with improvements.

When asked about the change from Gareth Bale (9.3m) for Vinicius after the match Mourinho said:

“I don’t like to individualise. We tried to start with a team who can try to give Son the same dynamic that he’s used to. There’s no replacement for Harry but we tried to give him that with Bale coming into his position to connect with Son, but we were not successful. But I’m not speaking about Bale, I’m speaking about us. In the second half, Vinicius is a different player. We tried to change the direction of the game. Vinicius as a target point brought us energy and he had a great shot with a great save from Sanchez. The reality is that the team improved.”

Jose Mourinho

While Spurs without Kane does the exact opposite of making Fantasy managers hearts flutter, the last half an hour of Gameweek 21 suggested that Spurs might just have enough about them to survive this latest injury blow.

The Gameweek 22 match against Chelsea will be a different prospect to Brighton. With Spurs and Chelsea playing out a 0-0 draw in the reverse of this fixture earlier on in the season, coupled with Son only managing two gaols in 10 games vs Chelsea, I am not expecting Son to return big for his owners this week.

But with the prospect of Kane returning sooner than originally feared I will be holding him, especially ahead of the West Brom game in Gameweek 23.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

Sam FPLFamily <p>Fantasy Football Scout's General Manager. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, Fantasy Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

752 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gundagon back to scoring lad. Cheers

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hopefully Jesus doesn't spend the whole game hanging around the penalty box like a bad smell.

      1. SHOOTER MCGINN
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Unfortunately that's all he does

    2. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Jesus will get in his way again...

  2. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Non Justin owners unite.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      CS added, assist too.

  3. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Scenes here when Mane hauls tonight

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I couldn’t care, as long as Salah doesn’t play.

  4. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    With Alisson & Salah already supposedly out for tonight and it only being 5pm, who else will be missing come KO?

    1. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Klopp in a stropp

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Don’t think Salah is out, just a slight doubt with a late fitness test from what I’ve read from the Chinese Whispers

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        It would be a first time for Chinese whispers being early

  5. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Don’t understand this lineup from Pep at all

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This, he is impossible to predict

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's mostly first choice as a warm-up for the Pool game. I imagine if they're winning he'll hook key players like Gundo, Bilva and Jesus.

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Laporte LB...

      Usual 433/4231...

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Really?

    4. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why? They wanna win the league. No point losing today and putting all your focus for Sunday. Liverpool did that against Burnley and they lost, then lost the next match.

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Well its moreso the formation i don’t understand

    5. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Planning on Laporte LB in CL/Liverpool preview?

    6. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      It's the strongest possible right now bar Foden for Mahrez/Jesus

    7. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I think its more of a Bielsa-like formation: 3-3-1-3

      Stones - Dias - Laporte

      Cancelo - Rodri - Gundo

      Bernardo

      Mahrez. Jesus Sterling

  6. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Where are all the people who banged on all week about gundo benching

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Hiding even though they have nowhere to hide.

    2. Salan
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They know nothing about momentum

    3. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same guys as the Salah trapped his Willy in a car door rumours ...I don’t notice them anyway

  7. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    So Salah rumours picking up now

    Is it true ?

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      99 % it is

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Poor people with Benderek first sub!

        1. tafrère
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Lol don't listen to him, he doesn't have a clue.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's 50/50 to play tonight.

  8. A. PRISE
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Guys where did the news on Salah come from? Any source?

    1. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      From the same “source” that said Gundogan would be benched.

    2. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cant say who but it's same source told me he will score brace vs WHU

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lol

    3. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Twitter accounts. But even those twitter accounts are saying that it's either Salah starting or Salah on the bench. People saying he's out and won't be in the squad are just... imagining things.

  9. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hope all these scored Salah non-owners or Bruno VCers get absolutely burnt

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Scared*

      Scoring is what Salah will do

  10. flipmode_1
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Not too fussed about Salah, Bruno my vice

    1. No Kane No Gain
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Fussed if it’s a 20 min cameo?!

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Erm, cameo?

      1. Tango74
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You mean he’s gonna do the Candy dance

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      1 point cameo more likely than a no-show with 9 subs named and liverpool's penchant to struggle against these types of teams this season.

      1. flipmode_1
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Actually in that case yes I will be fussed!

        1. flipmode_1
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          We all know what happened when he last had a 20 min cameo though right?
          I’m clutching!

          1. Mr. O'Connell
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He got 1 point against Burnley in that week were a load triple captained him?

          2. JJO
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He blanked?

            1. flipmode_1
              • 12 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              I’m thinking of the palace game, need something like that if he comes off the bench please

  11. The Red Devil
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ultra differential Mahrez haul time! He's my vice too incase Salah misses out (doubt he'll miss the entire game, but let's see)

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A rival actually brought him in, bound to score

  12. Do I Not Like Orange
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If Salah is benched & comes on for a cameo I am never picking another Pool player this season.

    1. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Go. Get em girl !

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That would be silly

    3. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      That’ll teach jurgen!

    4. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nothing to worry about then

  13. stu92
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Currently own Stones & Cancelo. With Laporte on the way back, is it time to go Stones > Dias? Was likely burning a transfer anyway.

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      On his way back from what?

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no? as if stones is just gonna be dropped

    3. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Maybe Laporte is just eased back to play LB vs Liverpool, and then he gets back to oblivion?

  14. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Why do people think Salah will be rested? Just a hunch or was something actually said?

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nothing concrete.

    2. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You already know the answer

    3. Kane and Ablett
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Wishful thinking again from the haters on here

  15. umerlfc
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Death, Taxes and Justin at Full back

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If there was a nuclear apocalypse the only things left would be cockroaches and Justin lining up for Leicester at full back.

      1. umerlfc
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes, would be some sight seeing him haul against roaches

      2. JohnnyRev7
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Had Justin since GW1 and just ignored all the 'he'll lose his place once Pereira's back' comments on here.

      3. aborg
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Wahahahaha hilarious.

  16. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Just the 10 players for me this evening... welp

    1. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same.

  17. LE CHARO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mahrez captain starts !! Now is the time to perform !

  18. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I swear to god, if mane is fit and I transferred him out to Salah for a hit.

    I’m such an idiot

    1. built_this_city
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      shut up and wait til 7.15

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lol

  19. Rohirrims
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    An EO question, if I own both Salah n Sterling (c) does an equal points haul lead to a rank drop or boost?

    1. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Boost.

    2. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Boost... you've basically got three Salahs. Not many will have Salah (c) and Sterling.

    3. LE CHARO
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Depends on what the players they have instead of Sterling do.

    4. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Balancing each other

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        *Sorry, with Sterling [C] then boost

  20. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wow, Justin haul autosub on for Salah, and Bruno (vc). Nice

    1. Nanoelektronicar
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I haven't noticed it's midnight already...

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Me neither. Just going by the words from our beloved site.

    2. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Did you watch the match already

      1. FPLtfs
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nah, mate. Just read about it

        1. Studs Up
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          reading is not good lol

  21. Babelcopter
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Time for (C)ancelo to show AWB what a real haul is

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's going to show Eddie Stobart what hauling really is.

    2. Simon69
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's not scoring more than 17 points ourlad.

  22. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    It s simple. Salah will start or he wont feature. No way he will be benched if he's fit but i think he s not.

    1. Studs Up
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      What happened to 99% he wont start?

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Nothing but there is always 1 %

        1. Studs Up
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          So this is a "cover me later" comment?

    2. Threat Level Midnight
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Are you okay

    3. RedAlpha10
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This guy is pressed

  23. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    With Cancelo (vc) and Antonio first bench, I'm completely fine with Salah (potentially) out

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      But we donmt yet know what Cancelo will do

    2. JJO
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Especially if Cancelo concedes and get RC in first half?

  24. Meinhoff
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I would literally pay money for Salah cameo tonight. (non-Salah owner and Sterling captaineer)

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      You mean like the cameo against Palace?

      1. Meinhoff
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Not like that 🙁

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I would literally pay money for a Salah no-show tonight. Would give me my first captain score above 6 points since GW13.

    3. Niho992
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No way.

  25. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Hope salah is injured just so I can get lord souceck off my bench

  26. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Laporte, Stones and Dias? What formation is it? 3 at the back?

    1. yakirh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looks like it

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Laporte LB

    3. JJO
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Laporte LB

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think it’s like a shape shifter. Becomes a 3 as Cancelo goes forward.

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Sounds promising.

    5. Meinhoff
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Laporte LB, Cancelo RB

    6. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks everyone.

  27. RamboRN
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Martinez
    Cancelo stones dallas
    Salah Bruno gundo son grealish
    Antonio dcl

    Subs Meslier, Bamford, coufal, Mitchell
    3.4m itb 2ft. I don't want to lose a ft but I can't think of any moves I should make. Help please:)?

  28. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Mitrovic starts. Bad news for anyone hoping for a Fulham goal.

  29. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Let's go Sterling!!

    1. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Got him in for Gundo this week so he better deliver.....

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      God I hate him

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Seems like a very nice young man.

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          As a player, FPL etc hehe 🙂

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah. Don’t think I’ll ever get him again.