Harry Kane sets target of eight wins for Tottenham to qualify for Champions League

Harry Kane believes Tottenham Hotspur must win eight of their remaining nine Premier League matches if they are to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Kane, who has now not played for six months due to a hamstring injury and football’s suspension, said there is “no doubt” that Tottenham must reach Europe’s premier competition.

The club’s finances have been severely affected by the coronavirus crisis, not least because of the knock-on effect on planned events that were due to be held at their new stadium this summer.

As revealed by Telegraph Sport this week, they are currently planning for a summer in which they will not be able to spend any money on transfers.

“We have got to finish in the top four, there is no doubt about that,” said Kane. “We have got a massive game against Manchester United in the first game and realistically we are going to have to win seven or eight to get into the Champions League.

“That has got to be our aim. Of course we want to win every game but we have got to make sure we finish strong if we want to be playing Champions League football next season.”

The England captain’s fitness will be key to their chances of climbing the table from their current position of eighth. Kane has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Southampton on New Year’s Day and Tottenham struggled horribly for form in the weeks before football’s suspension.

Jose Mourinho’s side had gone six matches without a victory in all competitions before the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK.

“From the hamstring point of view it is great to be able to give it a bit more rest,” Kane said. “I have not played a game for six months now. It has been a long, long time. From an injury point of view I’m normal, I’m fully fit. It will take a while to get back to the team training and feeling that again because I haven’t done that for six months or so.

“I am feeling good, I am feeling sharp. It has been good to do some individual training, a bit of finishing, a lot of individual drills to work on my game and improve.”

Tottenham are expected to be without Troy Parrott, Kane’s striking understudy, for their return to action after the teenager had surgery to remove his appendix. Parrott was found to have early signs of appendicitis after reporting abdominal pain.