Harry Kane available for North London derby – Mauricio Pochettino

LONDON — Harry Kane will make his Tottenham return in Sunday’s North London derby after Mauricio Pochettino declared him fit to face Arsenal.

Kane, 22, has been sidelined since suffering ankle ligament damage after scoring the winner in the 1-0 win over Sunderland on Sept. 18 and Spurs have struggled for form, and goals, without him.

The England international, who finished as the Premier League top scorer with 25 goals last season, has scored four times in three league appearances against the Gunners and he is in contention to start at the Emirates Stadium.

“He will be available to be selected for Sunday,” Pochettino told a news conference. “I need to decide if he starts in the 11 or on the bench. We’re very happy after yesterday — he had a very good training session. He’s fit.

“If he is on pitch or the bench, it’s because we’re sure it’s not a risk to play him. In football, you can’t avoid all the risk because it’s a contact sport. If the doctor said he is available to be selected it’s because there is no risk of injury.

“He is always important. The last few seasons, he was a very important for us. A player who is top scorer in the Premier League, when fit, is important for any club. It will be very good news. He can help the team get a good result.”

In Kane’s absence, Spurs are winless in six matches since the 2-0 win over Manchester City and have scored just once from open play in that time.

By contrast Arsenal are unbeaten since the opening day of the season and sealed qualification to the round of 16 of the Champions League with a 3-2 win against Ludogorets on Tuesday.

“Maybe we are not so confident as after City but football is about emotion,” Pochettino added. “When you win, you are in the top of your emotion and mental level. It will be a good test for us to change the dynamic. It’s a period I like to have to learn to learn and improve, it does not scare me.

“You never know if it’s good or bad time to play [Arsenal]. All can happen. We are not in a positive situation, after six games we struggled to win — four draws, two defeats — and we are conscious of that.”

Pochettino revealed that Toby Alderweireld is not fit for Sunday but he expects the defender, who has not been named in the Belgium squad, to return after the international break, while Erik Lamela and Ben Davies are also unavailable through injury.

Mousa Dembele, who is in the Belgium squad, will be assessed on Saturday after twisting his ankle on Wednesday, while Moussa Sissoko will serve the last of a three-match ban at Arsenal.