ANTONIO CONTE is not worried that Harry Kane will be hungover from his World Cup penalty shootout.
Kane29, returned to Spurs training on Thursdayalmost two weeks later ballooning from 12 meters in England’s quarter-final defeat to France in Qatar.
4
4
Conte knows what it’s like to deal with heartbreak when Italy lost in 1994 World Cup final on the lottery at the end of the game – although he was an unused substitute at the time.
And he is sure that his star striker can leave the disappointment behind.
Conte said: “Football can have tense moments and you can also have moments where you are a little disappointed because you miss a penalty.
“When I was a player I never missed a penalty because I didn’t kick (one). Never, because I was a disaster at it!
“But I lost a World Cup against Brazil with a penalty kick and I think you’re living this moment and you’re really disappointed.
“Especially in the first period you are sad, but then you know that you have to move on.
“Football gives you the chance to have other opportunities to enjoy it.
“Honestly, I’m not worried about him. I’ve seen him very well in these two days with us.”
FREE BETS AND SIGN-UP DEALS – BEST OFFERS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS
4
4
Kane will probably go right back to the Tottenham team in Brentford on Boxing Day.
Special given rich carlisonthe most obvious alternative, is expected to be out another “three to four” weeks with a hamstring injury sustained during the World Cup.
Compatriot Lucas Moura is also unavailable with a nagging tendon problem that has plagued him all season, leaving Conte frustrated.
The Spurs chief said: “Lucas has this problem, he struggles a lot to find a solution.
“It is certainly a difficult situation. Because I have a good player in my team, but he is never available. I don’t know what will happen to him in the future.”
France Captain Hugo Lloris, who lost the World Cup final to Argentina on penaltiesreturns to Tottenham training on Christmas Day.
“When I was a player I never missed a penalty because I didn’t kick (one). Never, because I was a disaster at it!
Antonio Conte
But Conte revealed that the Les Bleus record maker will be benched at the Bees the next day and Fraser Forster will make his first Premier League game for Spurs.
Meanwhile, the saga rumbles on whether Conte will sign a new contract.
He has six months left but is in talks to extend with Spurs, who currently have the option of a further year on his current terms.
Asked if he could give fans any guarantee that he would sign a new contract, Conte was mostly non-committal, but did say how “happy” he is at the club.
the ex-Chelsea chief said: “We have six months to stick together, enjoy the situation and then we will find the best solution. But I’m really happy here. This is very, very important to me.”
Tottenham fans are hoping for some new faces in January, although SunSport understands it will most likely be a ‘one in, one out’ scenario, if at all.
Conte added that any possible signing must fit the club’s policy of signing a younger talent with potential that won’t break the bank in terms of salary.
He said: “We will try to follow this policy to improve the team. If there is an opportunity to strengthen the selection, we will do it.
“Otherwise we will continue with these players and I am happy with that.”
Likely Lineup: Forster; Animal, Lenglet, Davies; Royal, Bissouma, Hojbjerg, Doherty; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.