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Harry Kane's key battle with Christopher Schindler ahead of Huddersfield v Tottenham analysed

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Huddersfield host Tottenham live on Sky Sports at lunchtime on Saturday, and Harry Kane will be looking to maintain his remarkable goalscoring form - but he faces a tough challenge against centre-back Christopher Schindler.

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The England striker scored his fifth goal in two games with a hat-trick during Spurs' 3-0 win at Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League on Tuesday, having struck a quick-fire double at the London Stadium last week.

After that West Ham game, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said: "I am in love [with Kane] like the fans are in love, like his team-mates are in love."

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But while the Tottenham graduate dominates the headlines, lesser-known bargain Christopher Schindler has been making a big impact in the heart of Huddersfield's defence.

Shindler will attempt to nullify Kane on Saturday, supported by fellow centre-back Mathias 'Zanka 'Jorgensen - but can the German and his Danish partner cope with the in-form Englishman?

Despite being one of the lesser-known players in the Premier league, Schindler currently ranks top of Premier League defenders for duels won per 90 minutes, fourth for clearances and fifth for tackles.

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Image: Huddersfield central defender Christopher Schindler has excelled so far this season

Huddersfield signed the German from 1860 Munich for £2m last summer and the 27-year-old was instrumental in the club's promotion-winning campaign, playing 44 league games.

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However, the Terriers only managed to keep 12 clean sheets and conceded 58 goals last term, becoming the only side to be promoted to the Premier League with a negative goal difference, ending the season on -2.

This season, the club signed defensive reinforcements in Zanka from FC Copenhagen and 'keeper Jonas Lossl on loan from Mainz. As a result, Huddersfield have only conceded three goals and kept four clean sheets - ranking second best in the league for both.

Fewest goals conceded (PL, 2017/18)

Club Goals conceded
Manchester United 2
Manchester City 2
Huddersfield Town 3

Most clean sheets (PL, 2017/18)

Club Clean sheets
Manchester United 5
Manchester City 4
Huddersfield Town 4

In fact, the Terriers' impressive eighth-place standing in the league table is largely due to their defensive robustness, having only scored five goals from six games. Of those goals, three were scored in their season-opening 3-0 win at Crystal Palace.

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Image: Harry Kane prefers to operate in the centre-left region but does not have a preferred area to shoot from

The activity map above shows how Kane prefers to operate in the central-left region, and that area will typically be marshalled by Zanka - but both central defenders will be aware they face a dynamic striker in Kane, as the range of his shot locations shows.

Schindler will patrol his left-side of central defence and will need to extend his league-high tally of 58 won duels if he is to successfully contain Kane.

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Image: Huddersfield central defender Christopher Schindler has won more duels than any other defender in the Premier League this season

Tottenham will be the first serious test for David Wagner's side, having faced Palace, Newcastle, Southampton, West Ham, Leicester and Burnley to date. And with Kane rekindling his goalscoring form after a customary August drought, that test has become even tougher.

However, Huddersfield are likely to remain compact and depend on Schindler to keep Kane at bay at the John Smith's Stadium, while their defensive unit as a whole must also contend with the likes of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen.

Can Schindler and Zanka cope with Kane and help Huddersfield claim their third victory of the season against Tottenham on Saturday?

Watch Huddersfield v Tottenham live on Sky Sports Premier League from 11.30am on Saturday.

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