The Emergence of Spurs’ Harry Kane

Appreciation from the Gaffer and the Skipper

Its fair to say that young Harry Kane has shone for Spurs this season, firing them to the final of the Capital One Cup, the knockout stages of the Europa League and into sixth place in the Premier League. The 21-year-old has caught the eye of the entire nation notching up 23 goals in 35 games in all competitions for the White Hart Lane club this season and has been tipped for his first England call-up for next month’s games against Lithuania and Italy. Kane has scored more goals in all competitions than any other Premier League striker, and his meteoric rise has seen his manager singing his praises. The Argentine Pochettino believes that the youngster is one among the leading strikers in the Premier League at present and has tipped him for big things if he continues in the same manner.

And his fan base doesn’t just end there, Hugo Lloris – French and Spurs skipper spoke to the media about Kane’s form, “It’s step by step with Harry but we don’t know where his limit is. It’s the same as Christian Eriksen, he’s got the talent and he works so hard every day.” The Frenchman added, “He works for the team first and then after that, he thinks about himself. That’s very important. There is a great spirit here and you can feel it every day, both on and off the pitch.”

England Calling

Its a surprise that Kane hasn’t yet got his first England cap after having been such a prolific scorer for the under-21s. Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed he will pick Harry Kane for his next England squad, but that Wayne Rooney remains his favoured striker in the international set-up. Kane has burst on the scene this season, and Hodgson revealed last Thursday that he was willing to finally bring the England Under 21 striker into the senior set-up. Glad about the variety of options at his disposal, Hodgson said, ‘We think back two or three years when I started but up front we didn’t have enormous depth.

‘We saw quite a few youngsters but not that many. Charlie Austin? He’s done very well. You have to wait until the 19th to see if I pick him, as well as Berahino. I really do admire them all.’ The former Fulham added, ‘Harry Kane? He is an all-round centre forward, can play right up there against a centre back, or come off and see a pass. He’s got technique, he’s always looking to get on the end of crosses, that header against Arsenal was a really classy header. I thought that was a wonderful. If all goes well and he stays fit I’m pretty sure he’ll be in the next squad.’

One of their Own – A Fan on the Pitch

Kane is English and at a time when English players aren’t even given recognition in their ‘own’ English Premier League. Yet Kane has not only managed to break into the starting line-up of a top-6 Premier League team but also carve out a role as a kind of playmaker-striker when the set-up for the team called for the old school front-man to be a poacher and nothing more. He has bucked every expectation, in the face of tall odds. In the very first 2 weeks of February, Kane has a dozen league goals. A dozen. That’s more league goals than any Spurs player scored in all of last year. His 22 goals in all competitions is more than any other Premier League player has this season.

Spurs fans call him one of their own and he is. A fan with immense desire, drive and appetite for the game and the quality to match it.Time always seems to stand still for the really great goal scorers and the Tottenham protégé seems to have the elusive gift. It tells you all you need to know about a natural talent.