LONDON • Tottenham Hotspur are hoping England striker Harry Kane's return to fitness and immediate scoring form will help keep their Champions League Group E hopes alive when they visit AS Monaco today.
The London side have lost both of their home games so far, to leaders Monaco (eight points) and then second-placed Bayer Leverkusen (six).
The Germans sit two points above them after winning 1-0 at Wembley on Matchday Four, and Spurs, two points ahead of bottom-placed CSKA Moscow, badly need to make up ground this week.
They got a boost in the Premier League at home to West Ham on Saturday, turning a 1-2 deficit into a 3-2 victory when Kane, only recently returned from injury, scored twice in the last few minutes.
"It's a must-win game (in Monaco) and this gives us a big high to go out there and win," he told BT Sport after his dramatic double at White Hart Lane.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino added: "The last month has been tough for us and it's fantastic to discover that feeling again for the games ahead.
"The first is a game we must win against Monaco and it's for that reason we need to have the mentality and feeling that we can go to Monaco and win."
Tottenham remain the only unbeaten side in the Premier League, although six draws in their 12 games means they are only fifth in the table, four points behind the leaders Chelsea (28 points).
Kane has also confirmed yesterday he is in talks to sign an improved contract and reiterated that he has no intention of agitating for a transfer away from his boyhood club.
The 23-year-old has struggled with an ankle injury for a part of the current campaign, making only seven Premier League appearances so far, but increased his goal tally to five after Saturday's double.
"I am happy at the club and want to be here for a long, long time," Kane, whose current contract runs till June 2020, told the British media.
"We are in talks and I'm sure we will get something sorted. I'm not panicking and I'm not demanding anything as I've read in the paper.
"We're having a conversation and I have no doubts that we will get it sorted. As I say, I want to be here for a long time and I am sure I will be."
Monaco are second in Ligue 1, three points off the pace from table-toppers Nice, after a comfortable 3-0 victory at Lorient.
Colombia striker Radamel Falcao continued his fine run with another goal for the principality side and, after hapless spells with Manchester United and Chelsea, would love to remind doubting English fans of his quality.
The French side now need only a draw to qualify for the knockout stage with a game to spare.
REUTERS
MONACO V TOTTENHAM
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