Joe Hart in line to make Tottenham Premier League debut against Arsenal with Hugo Lloris struggling with injury
JOE HART is eyeing his Spurs’ Premier League debut in Sunday’s home derby with Arsenal – despite being blamed for two LASK goals on Thursday.
The Telegraph say Tottenham No1 Hugo Lloris remains an injury doubt after not even travelling for the 3-3 Europa League draw.
That leaves former England keeper Hart, 33, scenting his first top-flight game since Burnley’s 5-1 home loss to Everton on Boxing Day 2018.
Free transfer arrival has edged out one-cap Argentina stopper Paulo Gazzaniga as the main back-up to Lloris for the Prem leaders.
And if French World Cup winner Lloris is not ready to return this weekend, boss Jose Mourinho is expected to confirm his faith in Hart.
Nonetheless, ex-Manchester City keeper Hart marred his string of decent saves away to LASK with two costly moments.
Peter Michorl’s long-range effort dipped and swerved past him for LASK’S opener.
Then Johannes Eggestein’s shot seemed straight enough for Hart to save when the Austrians grabbed the first of their two late equalisers.
Meanwhile, Mourinho had admitted he is neglecting the chance for some mind-games practice over main man Harry Kane – as he backed the England striker to face the 14th-placed Gunners.
Mourinho said: “I believe (Kane) is going to be fit.
“I’m not sure. He’s having treatment but I could be doing some bluff and pretend he’s in trouble, but he’s not and I think he’ll play.”
Ex-Chelsea and Manchester United manager Mourinho also had some gentle encouragement for Gareth Bale, who has yet to feature regularly since his September return on loan from Real Madrid.
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Bale, 31, was taken off at 2-2 in LASK, having notched his 200th career goal from the penalty spot.
Mourinho said: “I took him out 10-15 minutes before the end to save the last couple of runs.
“He has lots of positive things in his game and of course you can see that there are little bits that he has to improve.”
