by BACK IN A HARRY ANTONIO CONTE has no concerns whatsoever that Harry Kane will suffer a hangover from his World Cup penalty agony.
Kane, 29, returned to Spurs training on Thursday, almost a fortnight after ballooning over from 12 yards in England’s quarter-final defeat to France in Qatar.
Harry Kane returned to Spurs training on Thursday
Tottenham currently sit fourth in the Premier League
Kane was left heartbroken after his penalty miss at the World Cup
Conte knows what it is like to have to deal with spot-kick heartbreak when Italy lost the 1994 World Cup final on the end-of-game lottery – though he was an unused sub at the time.
And he is sure his star striker will be able to put the disappointment behind him.
Conte said: “Football can have exciting moments and you can also have moments where you are a bit 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 real disaster at it!
“But with a penalty I lost a World Cup against Brazil and I think you live this moment and you are really disappointed.
“For sure the first period you are sad but then you know that you have to move on.
“Football gives you the opportunity to have other chances to enjoy it.
“Honestly, I am not worried about him. I saw him very well in these two days with us.”
Kane blasted his crucial penalty over the bar as England crashed out of the World Cup against France
Antonio Conte’s Spurs will return to action against Brentford on Boxing Day
Kane will likely go straight back into the Tottenham team at Brentford on Boxing Day.
Particularly given Richarlison, the most obvious alternative, is expected to be out for another “three to four” weeks with a hamstring injury sustained at the World Cup.
Fellow Brazilian Lucas Moura is also unavailable with a nagging tendon issue problem that has plagued him all season long, leaving Conte frustrated.
The Spurs chief said: “Lucas has this problem, he is struggling a lot to find a solution.
“For sure it’s a difficult situation. Because I have a good player in my squad, but he’s never available. I don’t know what in the future happens about him.”
France captain Hugo Lloris, who lost the World Cup final on penalties to Argentina, returns 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 real disaster at it!
Antonio Conte
But Conte revealed the Les Bleus record-appearance maker will be on bench at the Bees the following day, handing Fraser Forster his first Premier League game for Spurs.
Meanwhile, the saga surrounding whether Conte will sign a new contract rumbles on.
He has six months left on his deal but is in talks over an extension with Spurs, who currently have the option of a further year on his current terms.
Asked if he could give fans any assurances he would be penning a new contract, Conte was typically non-committal, though did say how “happy” he is at the club.
The ex-Chelsea chief said: “We have six months to stay together, to enjoy the situation and then we find the best solution. But I am really happy here. This is very, very important for me.”
Tottenham fans will be hoping for some new faces in January, though SunSport understands it will most likely be a ‘one in, one out’ scenario, if at all.
Conte added that any possible signing will have to fit into the club’s policy of a younger talent with potential that will not break the bank on salary.
He said: “We will try to follow this policy to improve the team. If there is the possibility to strengthen the squad we will do it.
“Otherwise, we will continue with these players, and I am happy with them.”
Likely line-up: Forster; Dier, Lenglet, Davies; Royal, Bissouma, Hojbjerg, Doherty; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
