Spurs are genuine title contenders, insists Swansea coach

Alan Curtis: Takes Swansea to Spurs on Sunday

Alan Curtis: Takes Swansea to Spurs on Sunday

Tottenham are ready to kick on and win the Premier League, according to Swansea first-team coach Alan Curtis.

With a dozen games to go, second-placed Spurs trail Leicester by two points and hopes are growing in one half of north London that Mauricio Pochettino’s side can end the club’s 55-year wait for a top-flight title.

Spurs also breezed into the last 16 of the Europa League with a 3-0 victory over Fiorentina on Thursday night and, ahead of Swansea’s visit there on Sunday, Curtis feels that it is all adding up to a special season at White Hart Lane.

“They’ve always been regarded as a very good football team, but maybe they lacked a little bit of something,” said Curtis.

“Spurs, like Leicester in many ways, have come from nowhere and they’ve got a great opportunity to win the league now.

“Pochettino’s done a fantastic job, he’s got a great squad of players, and I don’t see any reason why they can’t win the title.

“It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if they went on to win it.”

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Harry Kane was left out of the Spurs squad on Thursday for the first time this season as he recovers from a broken nose.

The 19-goal marksman is not certain to return in time for Sunday, but Curtis said Swansea are preparing for the England striker to play.

“Kane is probably the one player they have not really doubled up on when you look at their squad,” said Curtis.

“Look at Ben Davies and Danny Rose who have shared the left-back position, they’ve got strength in depth all over the squad.

“Whatever team they put out is going to be a tough game, and the one that plays against us will probably show a few changes to the one that played Fiorentina.

“We’re certainly expecting Kane to play, years ago people would break noses and carry on playing.

“I don’t see it would be as a problem and that will make it more difficult for us, as he’s got a priceless gift of scoring goals.”

Spurs have recorded five successive victories to move into title contention and won 2-1 at Manchester City in their last league outing a fortnight ago.

Swansea lie three points above the relegation zone and have a dismal record against Spurs, drawing two and losing seven of their Premier League encounters.

But Curtis said: “The league this season has thrown up so many surprising results.

“Even last weekend, Palace went to Spurs in the FA Cup and grinded out a 1-0 victory.

“Spurs are a club we’ve not beaten since we’ve been in the Premier League.

“But the league is so unpredictable who’s to say we can’t go up there and get a result?”