Pochettino worried Kane's facemask could hamper performance

Harry Kane will have to wear a facemask to protect his broken nose for at least another three weeks, which has left Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino concerned about its effects on his star striker.

"He's playing with a mask and sometimes it can disturb you," Pochettino told reporters before Saturday's north London derby against Arsenal. "Maybe it's easier for (Chelsea midfielder) Nemanja Matic or different players that play behind, because creativity is not their problem. But you need to be sharp when you are offensive and creative."

Kane broke his nose when he took an elbow to the face during Tottenham's FA Cup loss to Crystal Palace on Feb. 21. He missed Spurs' 3-0 rout of Fiorentina in the Europa League but emerged with the mask for matches against Swansea City and West Ham - both fixtures in which he failed to score.

"Against West Ham, Harry had two or three clear chances to score," Pochettino said. "He was unlucky. It happens. I have full confidence in him. He is not a machine."

Kane didn't make a big deal about the mask. He neglected to even realise he had broken his nose during the FA Cup match.

"Once you start playing, you kind of forget it is on," he said. "It's all good."

The England international is currently third in Premier League scoring with 16 goals, although he has now gone four games without bulging the net.