Spurs vs. Real Madrid: Harry Kane expected to return after injury

Tottenham striker Harry Kane is set to return from injury to face Real Madrid in the Champions League tonight at Wembley Stadium.

Kane has missed the previous two matches because of a hamstring injury but the Daily Mirror says the England striker will be named in Tottenham’s starting XI. Spurs will also be boosted by the return of Dele Alli from suspension.

Speaking about Kane’s fitness, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “Yes, we are very confident. He is on the list. I think it maybe can be possible for him to be available to play.”

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With both teams level on seven points at the top of Group H, Kane’s return against Real is a huge boost for Spurs says defender Jan Vertonghen. The Belgian told the Independent: “Harry, for me, is one of the best number nines in Europe. Maybe the best. He shows that every week and I wouldn’t swap Harry for any player at the moment. Having him is always a major boost.”

Real come into the game off the back of a 2-1 defeat against Girona in La Liga and Pochettino has told his team to be “brave” against the European champions.

“Of course this is a game that you have to be brave in,” he said. “When you are playing against the best team in the world, if you are not brave, it is so difficult. You start losing. And yes we are going to be brave.

“For me it is it is important that our mentality is right good, we are going to try to play without fear, and dominate the game and try to win with that mentality.”

Tonight’s match will be the first time Real Madrid have ever played at Wembley. Boss Zinedine Zidane urged his team to “deliver a great performance” on a “fine stage”, while Spanish newspaper AS called the stadium a “cathedral”.

However, Zidane won’t be able to call upon former Spurs star Gareth Bale, who will miss the Wembley clash because of a calf injury.

Friends of the Welshman have told The Independent that Bale is “gutted” he won’t be able to play against the north London club, where he scored 42 goals in 146 appearances.

Tonight’s Champions League fixtures (7.45pm unless stated)

Group E

• Liverpool vs. NK Maribor
• Sevilla vs. Spartak Moscow

Group F

• Napoli vs. Manchester City
• Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Feyenoord

Group G

• Besiktas vs. Monaco (5pm)
• FC Porto vs. RB Leipzig

Group H

• Borussia Dortmund vs. Apoel Nicosia
• Tottenham Hotspur vs. Real Madrid