Harry Kane passes fitness test ahead of Carabao Cup final

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is expected to be fit in time to feature in Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

Kane limped off late on in the recent 2-2 draw with Everton after picking up an ankle injury - perhaps the scariest sight for any Spurs fan - and he was unavailable for Ryan Mason's first game in charge, the 2-1 win over Southampton.

The England striker returned to training soon after that game, and according to The Telegraph, he has done enough to convince Spurs that he is capable of playing some part in the cup final.

Mason will make a late check on Kane's fitness ahead of the game to determine whether the 27-year-old is healthy enough to start or whether he will have to come off the bench.

The situation brings back memories of the 2019 Champions League final, which saw Spurs fall 2-0 to Liverpool. Kane missed the six weeks before the game with an ankle injury but forced himself back for such a big game, only to look ineffective and short of match fitness.

Fortunately, having missed just nine days with this latest concern, there is optimism that Kane's performance levels will not have dropped.

Should Kane start on the bench, Mason has a number of options at his disposal. Brazilian Carlos Vinicius is the only out-and-out striker in the squad other than Kane, but the interim boss opted to go with Lucas Moura for the Southampton win.

Sunday's final will give Kane the chance to win the first trophy of his Spurs career. The club's lack of silverware has long been touted as something which could force Kane out of the club, but centre-back Toby Alderweireld insisted Spurs proved they are winners just by reaching the final.

“I understand what you say about Harry but it’s everyone at the club," he said. “We didn’t get silverware but the steps this club has taken in the last five, six, seven years is big, don’t underestimate it even if you get used to it quite quickly. 

“So of course we are not happy without silverware but you can’t say we weren’t good or say Spurs don’t have winners. You have to win to get in finals. You have to win to get into the top four. Of course, that is not silverware but maybe now we are in a moment to get everyone to just shut up and get it.” 

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