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Is this where free-scoring Harry Kane will come unstuck?

Is this where free-scoring Harry Kane will come unstuck?

Rochdale FA Cup match winner Ian Henderson hopes he has the chance to re-introduce Harry Kane and Dele Alli to the delights of his Spotland home in next week’s FA Cup fifth round tie.

The League One strugglers secured their place in the last 16 for just the third time in history when they edged out Millwall in Tuesday’s replay thanks to Henderson scoring the only goal of the game.

That means that if Tottenham get through their own replay, against League Two Newport County tonight, Mauricio Pochettino’s Premier League side will be heading to play on Dale’s sand-covered pitch.

Not that it will be a new experience for Spurs’ two England stars.

Kane actually made his league debut, while on loan with Leyton Orient, in a 17-minute substitute appearance in a 1-1 draw at Spotland in January 2011.

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And Alli played at Rochdale’s home when he was a youngster making his way in the game, with MK Dons in 2015.

Henderson said: “The majority of these boys have played against him and they dominated him when he was at MK Dons.

“I don’t know if you have watched any of the games against Rochdale when he was at MK, but the boys at the time dominated the game.

“So for them it will just be a case of playing against him again, but playing for Spurs.

“You see the young players at this club, they are exceptionally talented, they are aspiring to be in the Premier League.

“So if they are put up against Harry Kane - and no disrespect to Harry Kane because he is an unbelievable player, an elite soccer player - they are going to do their best to stop him scoring goals.

“They want to impress because it’s an opportunity to showcase their skill set against a Premier League side.”

 

Henderson has now scored five times in the FA Cup this season and has helped position Rochdale for their best-ever run if they should manage to reach the quarter-finals.

And the fact Keith Hill’s side has beaten Championship opposition in Millwall means the veteran striker refuses to write off Newport’s hopes of an upset tonight.

He added: “Who knows? Spurs have to play Newport.

“You see the magic of the Cup when we have beaten a team from a higher league, so you never know what’s going to happen. Who knows? Football is a magical game.

“Spurs could have a real off night and Newport could be exceptional.”