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Champions League Injuries: Latest On Harry Kane, Roberto Firmino And More

This article is more than 4 years old.

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Two English Premier League rivals are set to do battle in just over a week for arguably the biggest prize in club soccer, the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool and Tottenham will face off at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid June 1 in the Champions League final.

The Premier League rivals both overcame monumental hurdles in making the final. Liverpool overcame a 3-0 loss to Barcelona at the Camp Nou by defeating Lionel Messi and company 4-0 at Anfield, winning 4-3 on aggregate. The following night, Tottenham overturned a 2-0 halftime deficit at Ajax, and three-goal aggregate deficit, through a Lucas Moura second-half hat trick, advancing on away goals.

Since those dramatic victories, just over two weeks ago, fans of both sides have anxiously awaited news regarding some of their key players. Will they be fit to take the field for the most important match of the season?

Let’s start with Tottenham and striker Harry Kane. Kane has been sidelined with an ankle injury he suffered in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Manchester City in April.

This is his second injury this season to that ankle. He damaged ligaments in the same ankle in January against Manchester United, missing the next seven matches.

Kane is invaluable for the club, having scored 24 goals in all competitions for Tottenham.

The England captain twisted his ankle as he tried to block a clearance by Manchester City defender Fabian Delph. The team substituted Kane immediately.

After the match, the club confirmed Kane sustained a “significant lateral ligament injury to his left ankle.” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino noted that the team expected that he could miss the rest of the season.

With the Premier League season over and an almost three-week break before the Champions League final, Kane has been racing against time in order to be fit.

Typically, ankle sprains involve tearing the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The recovery time depends on a number of factors, including the number of ligaments torn, the extent of damage to the ligaments, the amount of swelling and more.

Generally, when an athlete regains full range of motion without pain and can walk without pain, he is allowed to start jogging, but in a straight line only.

After the stunning victory in Amsterdam, Kane, who had given his team an inspiring pep talk at halftime, ran on the field to celebrate with his teammates. Fans immediately grew optimistic that his ankle would be ready for the final.

"That’s why I ran over there because it was straight and I didn’t cut any corners. So far so good and if it keep going like this then it’s positive and I’d hope to be fit," Kane told BT Sport. "Rehab is going well. I start straight line running this week which is why I was OK to run on at the end."

The Spurs Twitter account posted a picture of Kane jogging with injured teammates Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez Wednesday afternoon.

Once an athlete can comfortably jog, then he starts activities to work on his strength and balance to regain the ability to cut and change directions, as well as land from a jump. We don’t have insight into his daily rehab, but that appears to be the phase of rehab Kane has entered just over a week out from the final.

One other consideration with ankle sprains is that often an athlete who has suffered multiple ligament injuries on the same ankle progress more slowly than an athlete after the first injury. Perhaps the second injury this year plays a role in the roughly six weeks Kane has been out so far.

Still, yesterday’s jogging and training session indicate Kane will take the field next Saturday.

Likewise, Vertonghen is trying to overcome an ankle injury suffered in the semifinal win over Ajax May 8. He was seen using crutches and wearing a protective boot shortly after the match. The Daily Mail reported that he is currently believed to be 60/40 in favor of playing in the Champions League final, but the news of him jogging suggests his chances might be better.

Finally, Davinson Sanchez is aiming to recover from a thigh injury suffered in a loss to Bournemouth. He missed the second leg win over Ajax, but like Kane and Vertonghen, the team appears optimistic he will be available in Madrid.

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On the Liverpool side, all eyes are on forward Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian has missed his team’s final three matches with a groin injury.

During a short holiday manager Jürgen Klopp gave his players before the team began training in Marbella, Firmino posted pictures of his rehab sessions. Klopp told reporters, “Bobby looks really good (and) he is now part of training. It was not too long out, but of course we are still careful and want to make sure nothing happens."

Liverpool’s medical staff will be careful not to rush the striker back too quickly for fear of reinjuring the area, as can often happen with adductor and other groin muscle injuries. Still, he appears likely to start next Saturday.

Finally for the Reds, midfielder Naby Keita seems less likely to appear, working to recover from an adductor tear in his groin that occurred during the team’s first leg loss to Barcelona on May 1. Liverpool initially announced Keita would miss two months.

Full adductor tendon tears are more significant injuries, and they occasionally require surgery. While the athlete can often resume daily activities, walking and straight-ahead jogging, the moves and strength demanded to play at this level often require a longer healing time.

Klopp told reporters the Guinean is making good progress but still seems unlikely to face Tottenham. "Naby is, I would say, a bit ahead of schedule, but that doesn't mean anything for the final. He is now doing straight runs and all of that stuff. He feels comfortable with 50 per cent intensity and these things—but there is still a way to go."

The Reds are seeking their sixth European championship, and second Champions League title, while Spurs are appearing in the Champions League final for the first time. It’s only the second time a Champions League final featured two teams from England.