Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed suggestions that misfiring Tottenham Hotspur hitman Harry Kane is suffering from fatigue.
Kane, 21, became the first Spurs player since Gary Lineker to reach the 30-goal barrier in a season when he scored in the 3-1 win at Newcastle United last month.
However, the Englishman has failed to find the net since, as well as in the three games prior to visiting St James' Park, but Pochettino says that a dip in form is only natural given his heroics already.
"He's not tired," he told reporters. "This is football. Sometimes you have the possibility to score and sometimes not. I think that Harry has had a fantastic season.
"We need to finish the season very good and after we need to prepare for next season. We need to prepare the team and squad to try and be able to get something important."
Kane was named PFA Young Player of the Year last month.