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Mon 20 March 2017 8:07, UK

By Will Butcher

Graeme Souness believes Tottenham could finish outside the Premier League’s top four come May because of the injury to Harry Kane.

Kane, 23, was sidelined with an ankle injury against League One outfit Millwall earlier this month, but is expected to return to face Chelsea on April 22.

Souness told Sky Sports that he believes the loss of Spurs’ top scorer will prove crucial in Mauricio Pochettino’s efforts to land a place in the Champions League next season.

Souness claimed the north London giants were lucky in beating Southampton on Sunday, as goals from Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli secured a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane.

“Tottenham got away with it without Harry Kane. They have got to get him back sooner or later or they will risk not making the top four,” Souness said.

“Things can change over nine or 10 games but right now I will say United and Arsenal won’t make it.”

Argentine boss Pochettino opted to replace top scorer Kane with South Korea international Son Heung-Min against the Saints, leaving Vincent Janssen on the substitutes’ bench.

It worked during the first half, as Spurs went into the break two goals to the good thanks to a superb long-range strike from playmaker Eriksen and a penalty from England star Alli.

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse got his name on the score sheet after being called up to the Three Lions squad by Gareth Southgate, but the Saints failed to capitalise on his goal.

The win sees Spurs remain in second and seven points above the gap between Champions League football and fifth place, with Liverpool and Man City filling the other top four places.

Kane has been in prolific form this season, scoring 24 goals in 29 appearances.

In other Tottenham news, Graham Roberts believes this is how Spurs survived a late Southampton onslaught.

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