Harry Kane has suffered enough problems with his ankle ligaments in recent years to recognise the signs and the sight of him slumped on the turf, dejected and in clear discomfort as the game reached its end, made Tottenham hearts sink.
It was bad enough to lose at home for a second successive Premier League game, to find David de Gea having one of those days, to concede ground on the leaders and to see Manchester United on the charge, gathering momentum under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
It was a concern to see Moussa Sissoko forced off before half time with a groin injury but Kane's twisted ankle was the final insult, in the closing seconds of the contest, after a strong challenge from Phil Jones as United desperately defended their 1-0 lead.