Tottenham manager admits Harry Kane's form could be hampered by face mask ahead of Arsenal clash

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino feels Harry Kane's recent goal drought could be partly because of the face mask he has had to wear due to the nose fracture he suffered during their loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fifth round. He has failed to score a goal since his injury, but the manager is confident that he will find his goal-scoring touch sooner rather than later.

The England international has scored just one goal in his last six appearances and the Argentine manager has blamed the face mask he has to wear to protect his broken nose. Kane is required to wear the protective gear for a minimum of three weeks, but Pochettino feels it could be longer.

Chelsea players Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas have had to wear protective masks this season, but the manager believes it is easier to play with a mask for defensive players rather than the creative and offensive minded players. The Blues striker, however, has scored four goals since wearing the mask against Newcastle on 12 February.

"If you analyse all the strikers in the Premier League it's difficult to have 10 chances every game. At West Ham, Harry had two or three clear chances to score. Unlucky. Sometimes it happens. I have full confidence in him. Sometimes a period arrives when it's difficult to score. He is not a machine," Pochettino said, as quoted by the Mirror.

"Then he's playing with a mask. Sometimes it can disturb you — when you are creative. Maybe it's easier for (Chelsea defensive midfielder) Nemanja Matic or different players that play behind, because it's not their problem. But you need to be sharp when you are offensive and creative. Sometimes it can disturb you a little bit."

"He must wear the mask for a few weeks more, though, a minimum of three weeks," the Argentine manager added ahead of Spurs clash against arch rivals Arsenal.