In arry Kane’s absence, and with Heung-min Son also not going to start in Portugal, 17-year-old Dane Scarlett will make his first senior start for Spurs.

Big things are expected of the teenager, who has been tipped for the top by former boss Jose Mourinho.

“He’s going to start the game tomorrow. We have big, big expectations regarding Dane because he did so well in pre-season which you recall the game against Leyton Orient in which he scored and he was involved in many of the games in pre-season,” Nuno added.

“He’s a young talent that we want to develop and we want to make him better and want to make him grow because there’s a lot of potential there.”

So, what next for Harry Kane? Spurs boss Nuno insists he is not listening to the gossip.

“Maybe I’m the only one who doesn’t really care about what’s been said and written outside, because this you cannot control, and honestly with all my respect it doesn’t really matter,” Nuno, who revealed he had breakfast with Kane on Thursday, said.

“What matters is what is happening behind the doors, and what is happening behind the doors is that Harry is our player, he’s preparing himself, training today, he’s going to train tomorrow and again on Friday, joining the group, and this is how we operate.

“We don’t really pay much attention to what’s said outside regarding the situation of Harry, Harry is our player, one of the best players in the world, and we are very lucky to have him.

“What we must be sure of is that when we decide to put a player on the pitch we have to consider all of the aspects, the fitness, the mental aspects and we are here to support all of the players equally. Harry has all of our support.”

Here is how our chief football correspondent, Dan Kilpatrick, predicts Spurs will line up tonight…

(4-3-3): Gollini; Doherty, Romero, Carter-Vickers, Davies; Winks, Sissoko, Lo Celso; Gil, Clarke, Scarlett

There is a sense of optimism around Spurs following Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League win over champions Manchester City, so a game against Pacos that could previously have been greeted with a cynical edge now takes on a different air – especially with plenty of squad players looking to impress Nuno.

Harry Kane did not travel with a youthful Spurs squad to Portugal on Wednesday morning, further delaying his return to action amid the England captain’s ongoing frustrations with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

Kane is still building up his fitness after coming out of quarantine on Thursday last week and Nuno is set to ring the changes for the match, with the squad thought to include teenagers Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett.

Ryan Sessegnon is lacking match fitness, while Tanguy Ndombele’s future remains up in the air after not being used in pre-season despite no injury concerns.

TV channel: The match will be televised on Premier Sports 1.

Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or Premier Player app.

The first point of business then… FC Pacos de Ferreira is scheduled for a 7:30pm BST kick-off today.

The match will be played at Estadio Capital do Movel in Pacos de Ferreira, Portugal.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the first leg of Tottenham’s Europa Conference League play-off tie against FC Pacos de Ferreira!