Harry Kane remains on the sidelines for Tottenham's clash with champions Leicester tomorrow – but boss Mauricio Pochettino still hopes his England striker will be fit to face Arsenal next weekend.
Kane and defender Toby Alderweireld are both being 'killed' by Tottenham's fitness team in a bid to get them ready for either Wednesday's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen or next Sunday's north London at the Emirates.
Striker Kane has been out for more than a month with ankle ligament damage while Alderweireld has a knee problem.
And Pochettino said: “Harry and Toby are not ready yet. It is difficult to know when but maybe their evolution is great in the next few days and maybe they are available if not Wednesday then next Sunday.
“They are suffering a lot. They want to be available quickly because we kill them. When they are recovering from injury they have double sessions every day, to keep fit and it's a good thing to say 'wake up, work hard'.
“They are very positive but sometimes you cannot accelerate the process. We wait for the doctors to say they are available. They are not frustrated, always they want to play but sometimes it's not possible.”
Premier League golden boot winner Kane missed out on a place on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or World Player of the Year award.
But Pochettino said: “Hugo Lloris is on the list and I am happy for him. Harry is still very young and still has the opportunity to be on that list.”
Pochettino – who literally laughed off suggestions that Spurs are trying to sign Manchester City's Sergio Aguero - says Leicester could still figure in the title race despite losing all of their four Premier League away games to date.
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In pictures: Spurs train ahead of Leicester clash
He said: “No it is not unrealistic (that they could be in the title race). I think Leicester have signed good players. It is normal that it's difficult for them to keep the level of last season. They are involved in one competition more in the Champions League, that is difficult because you use a lot of energy in that competition and to share that with the Premier League is very difficult. It is their first time, like us. To play in the Champions League demands different things and always it's tough.
“But still they are a very good team, with good players. They keep a similar style. They play 4-4-2, they can change if they play with different names but they keep their structure and their principles. It is a team that likes to play on the counter-attack, they are strong, they play deep, they have good organisation.
“Last season they improved and they had the habit to win, which is always important to build the confidence – it will be a very tough game for us and for them too. “