No Kane in Spurs squad to face Man City

Harry Kane has not been named in the Tottenham squad to face Manchester City in their Premier League opener.

England captain Kane has been extensively linked with a mega-money switch to Premier League champions City during the close season, a saga that has hung over Sunday’s encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

New Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo refused to rule Kane out of the contest despite him only returning to first-team training on Friday, even though the 28-year-old’s match fitness was an obvious concern.

After helping England to the final of Euro 2020, Kane was reported to have failed to show up for Tottenham training when scheduled, in what was viewed as an attempt to force through a move to City.

Your team to face @ManCity!  pic.twitter.com/BUFdDIMny8

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 15, 2021

However, he denied refusing to train and said he returned to the club “as planned” last Saturday, before completing a five-day quarantine at The Lodge – the accommodation adjacent to Tottenham’s Enfield training base.

In Kane’s absence, Steve Bergwijn, Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min will form a three-man forward line, supported by Dele Alli. New signings Bryan Gil, Cristian Romero and Pierluigi Gollini are all on the bench, with Oliver Skipp starting alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in midfield following an impressive season on loan at Norwich City.

City’s British record signing Jack Grealish starts in north London alongside Raheem Sterling, although their England team-mates Kyle Walker and John Stones are on the bench alongside Kevin De Bruyne.

Bernardo Silva and Gabriel Jesus, each of whom have been linked with moves away from the Etihad Stadium to help fund any move for Kane, are also among Pep Guardiola’s substitutes as the ex-Barcelona boss begins his bid for a fourth Premier League title in the past five seasons.

TEAM NEWS IS IN! 

XI | Ederson, Cancelo, Dias, Ake, Mendy, Fernandinho (C), Gundogan, Grealish, Mahrez, Torres, Sterling.

SUBS | Steffen, Walker, Stones, Jesus, Zinchenko, Laporte, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo.

 @HaysWorldwide
 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/8yfNFHOSVe

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 15, 2021