Shaka Hislop has sent Nuno Espirito Santo a stern Harry Kane warning ahead of Tottenham's opening Premier League game at the weekend against Manchester City.
Kane has been heavily linked with a transfer to Pep Guardiola's champions but has returned to Hotspur way and is currently training alone until Thursday due to isolation measures after returning back from his holiday in the Bahamas.
There is a slim chance that Tottenham's talisman will be ready for the weekend against the team that is highly interested in securing his services this summer.
However, former West Ham goalkeeper Hislop has warned Espirito Santo that including the 28-year-old in any capacity against the Guardiola's team would send the "wrong message" out to the rest of the footballing world in regards to the power dynamics that exist in N17.
"If this is the backdrop and there is any truth to Spurs' stance about Harry Kane and his return, I don't see how Nuno includes in his starting XI," Hislop told ESPN.
"I just feel that sends absolutely the wrong message. It says that Harry Kane is in charge. It says Nuno has to do what Harry Kane dictates.
"Then spin over to that is the message to the rest of the dressing room and who is in charge.
"That, for me, is something that even with a new manager coming never really gets back. If that's his first salvo – you can't afford to lose authority in the dressing room in your first official game in charge."
football.london understands that Daniel Levy will not consider a sale of his star man unless an offer of around £150million is made before the end of this transfer window by City.
Rumours circulated that the England captain had missed training in an attempt to force a move out of his boyhood club this summer, but Kane recently retorted on social media with a statement in which he clarified his current position.
"It's almost ten years since I made my Spurs debut. For every one of those years, you - the fans - have shown me total support and love," he said on his Twitter account.
"That's why it hurts to read some of the comments that have been made this week, questioning my professionalism.
"While I won't go into the specifics of the situation, I want to clarify that I would never, and have never, refused to train.
"I will be returning to the club tomorrow, as planned. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise the relationship that I have with the fans who have given me such unwavering support during my time with the club.
"This has always been the case as it is today."
Kane enjoyed an extremely productive 2020/21 campaign, notching 33 goals and 17 assists across all competitions.
