Spurs match-winner Llorente ´ready´ to fill Kane´s boots

Fernando Llorente believes he is ready to step into injured Tottenham striker Harry Kane’s role having scored the winner in Wednesday’s 2-1 comeback at home to Watford.

Spurs were heading for a third successive home Premier League defeat until Son Heung-min, back from Asian Cup duty, levelled in the 80th minute.

Llorente, who had missed several presentable chances earlier in the game, then completed the turnaround three minutes from the end, heading Danny Rose’s cross past Ben Foster.

With Kane out until March, Llorente finding some goal-scoring form could prove vital, and he feels he will only get stronger.

“It’s a big responsibility,” he told Sky Sports, when asked about taking Kane’s place. “I’m ready to help the team and will be stronger every game.

That celebration. #COYS pic.twitter.com/rpk0VQx4nE

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 30, 2019

“I am really happy because today was a tough game. To help the team with a massive goal today is very important, more so after the past two games in cups that we lost. We needed to come back to winning ways.”

Watford coach Javi Gracia was ultimately left annoyed by his team’s inability to hold on to what would have been a commendable victory.

However, he feels that frustration is a good indicator of the team’s confidence and the expectations they have of themselves.

“We are disappointed because we have missed a very good chance to get points,” Gracia told BBC Sport. “It’s a good sign of our demands with ourselves that we are disappointed.

“They had more possession, but we defended well, created some chances and scored and we worked very well.

“Then at the end of the game we conceded two goals. They changed their shape and put on more offensive players, but we had good chances.”

A tough one to take #TOTWAT 2-1 [FT] pic.twitter.com/MgitUF7jLt

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) January 30, 2019