Harry Kane confident of recovering from injury in time to start Tottenham’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea

Harry Kane is hopeful he will be in the starting line-up for Tottenham’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

The England forward is making good progress in his return from an ankle ligament injury and Standard Sport understands he believes the Wembley meeting with Chelsea on April 22 to be a realistic prospect.

It is thought Kane will certainly be absent for another two-to-three weeks, which means he would miss Premier League games against Burnley, Swansea and Watford. After facing Watford on April 8, Spurs take on Bournemouth at White Hart Lane a week later before preparing for the semi-final.

Kane’s injury, sustained in the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Millwall on March 12, was declared by Spurs to be not as “severe” as the ankle problem he suffered earlier in the season. That damage kept Kane out for 10 matches in six weeks.

If Kane did return against Chelsea, that would mean a similar length of time on the sidelines. But his good progress since the injury is a huge boost to Tottenham, who are trying to win their first major trophy since 2008, while also attempting to secure the top-four finish in the league that would bring a place in next season’s Champions League.

Tottenham also hope Danny Rose will be available for the run-in. After Chelsea, Tottenham face Arsenal in the league on April 30 and Manchester United over the weekend of May 13-14. The defender has not played since damaging medial knee ligaments in the 0-0 draw at Sunderland on January 31.