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Oh dear. It never rains in football, it pours. Tottenham must be asking what they have done to deserve such a horrendous injury list at such a vital time of the season. The defence, midfield and goalkeeping positions have been plagued with injuries this term.
They have coped really well with all the niggles and long-term injuries players have sustained this season. However, the one player they probably hoped they would never have to be without is England captain and talismanic forward Harry Kane.
Under normal circumstances, fans and pundits will not be panicking as much as they are now because South Korean forward Son Heung-Min is a viable attacking alternative.
Unfortunately, Son is currently on international duty at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and could miss up to six games (across all comps), should his country get to the final.
Mauricio Pochettino will have to delve into the transfer market or make do with the options currently available at the club. With the second option in mind, we consider three Tottenham players that the Spurs boss can utilise in a number-nine position in the absence of both Kane and Son Heung-min.
#3 Fernando Llorente
The ex-Spanish international is another striker with the North London outfit and the obvious replacement in the attacking role. Signed for £12.1m from Swansea in 2017, he's thus far failed to make a lasting impression for Spurs.
The 2010 World Cup winner is a strong and physically imposing number nine that thrives on good deliveries into the box. Contrastingly, Tottenham play a slick passing style of football which requires a mobile and very technical number nine. With that in mind, Llorente is ill-suited to their playing style.
However, in a career that has spanned teams including Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Juventus and the Spain national side, Llorente has proven he knows where the back of the net is. His 15 Premier League goals for the Swans in 2016/17 proves he's able to score in England's top-flight too, with the right kind of service.
#2 Lucas Moura
Mauricio Pochettino may very well decide that he cannot alter the team's playing style to fit Fernando Llorente's main strengths. So with that in mind, the next viable option would be to use Lucas Moura in a false nine role.
The Brazilian international would be more suited to that role than Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Eric Lamela - with eight goals and an assist created in 20 starts across the Premier League and Champions League this season. He possesses pace, dribbling ability and high technical quality too. His hold-up play and passing are also very good, which makes him better suited to the role than Spurs' other attackers.
The former PSG forward would also provide the element of surprise to the Tottenham frontline. This could be very vital - as coaches and defenders may not know how to defend against him as a frontman. However, Lucas is just returning from injury after sustaining a knock during their 9-0 cup win over Tranmere.
#3 Vincent Janssen
Oh dear. Tottenham fans would absolutely dread this option, with the Netherlands international having become a forgotten figure over the last two years. However, everyone deserves a second chance to prove themselves. Vincent Janssen is no exception to that, as he now has a serious opportunity to assert his long-term credentials at the club, grabbing this chance with both hands.
On paper, Janssen is better than both options previously mentioned. Bigger, stronger and with better hold-up play than Lucas, he's also faster, more technically gifted and better suited to the Spurs playing style in comparison to Llorente.
The goals just didn't flow for him during his first season in north London. Injuries and fitness concerns have denied him an extended opportunity to prove himself, or even earn regular first-team football elsewhere on loan. Who knows? An opportunity has presented itself for a player that Spurs spent £17m to sign in the summer of 2016. It's time for him to finally silence his critics and excel.
