Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho will not use Gareth Bale as a striker as he searches for a solution to "irreplaceable" Harry Kane's injury.

Kane suffered injuries to both ankles in the first half of Spurs' 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Thursday but it was the one to his left joint that saw him come off at half-time.

He will definitely miss the trip to the Amex, leaving Mourinho with a dilemma on how best to combat the absence of a player who has scored or assisted 23 of Tottenham's 34 Premier League goals this season.

Carlos Vinicius was signed as cover for Kane in the summer but was not brought on as a direct replacement against Liverpool or as Spurs chased the game in the second half.

He has only been given 25 minutes of action in the league so far.

Bale has operated as a striker in the past and scored a classic centre-forward's goal to beat Albion when the clubs met in November.

But the Spurs boss says he is not going to be used in that role.

Mourinho said: "Harry Kane is Harry Kane, you know.

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"There are players in some teams, that are not replaceable.

"I don't think Gareth is a striker, I don't think he likes to play as a striker.

"It was something that we spoke when we joined us, he was very objective with me, by saying he doesn't feel he is a left winger like he was before, he doesn't feel like he is a No 10 like he was before, too.

"The position that he likes to play is the position where we are playing him every minute we give him, which is the right side of the attack.

"So when Gareth plays starting or coming from the bench, that's his position in our game."

Bale has been underwhelming so far this season following his loan return from Real Madrid.

But, after playing his first 90 minutes in the FA Cup against Wycombe on Monday, Mourinho says it is time to step up.

Spurs will also be without Dele Alli against Albion as he continues to battle a tendon injury while Sergio Reguilon (muscle) and Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring) are also out.