After he scored a perfect hat-trick in the Champions League last night, the plaudits keep rolling in for Tottenham’s star striker Harry Kane.
Just days after Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said he was “in love” with the forward, club legend Glenn Hoddle said during commentary on BT Sport that he believes the 24-year-old can become Tottenham’s “greatest ever striker”.
These are big words considering Tottenham has been home to striking legends such as Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and German star Jurgen Klinsmann.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
While August is never a good goal-scoring month for the England striker, since September started Kane has netted 11 in seven games, including his sixth hat-trick of 2017 against Apoel Nicosia.
After Kane scored a dazzling double against West Ham on 23 September, the Daily Mirror reported on how Pochettino was “in love” with his goal machine.
“Harry is not only the best English striker, he is one of the best in the world,” said Pochettino.
“It’s too hard for me to find the right words to describe him because in the last three seasons I am telling you how great he is.
“I am in love with him like the fans are in love and his team-mates are in love with him. Not only because he scores goals but because how he is - professional, humble and a very good example in football today being like this.
“He keeps all the values that managers like me appreciate a lot and that is why I am in love with him.”
The Spurs manager may love his star striker, but spare a thought for Pochettino’s wife who may be slightly jealous of the attention Kane is getting from the gaffer.
“Now my wife is so jealous - and his wife too,” Pochettino said after the 3-0 victory against Apoel. “No, I think it’s unbelievable. You know, it’s Harry Kane.
“He has unbelievable skills in front of goal. He has something special. That is why he is one of the best.
“All the strikers that have this type of level they have something special in front of goals. They are killers. Harry has this special skill.”
The special skill Pochettino alludes to is definitely recognised by the Tottenham faithful. With their song “he’s one of our own” regularly chanted in White Hart Lane and now Wembley, Spurs fans are no doubt delighted to have him in their team.
Kane, who made his Tottenham debut in 2011, has scored 20 or more goals in each of the past three Premier League seasons, Since he made his Tottenham debut in 2011, the BBC reports. Last year he scored 29 goals in 30 games.
When speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scotland striker Ally McCoist said Kane was good enough to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona.
McCoist said: “Harry Kane is absolutely remarkable. The past two or three years he has been phenomenal. Sergio Aguero is a terrific striker, Alvaro Morata is on fire, Romelu Lukaku has power and strength - but at this moment in time I would go with Harry Kane over them all.
“He is good enough to play with Real Madrid and Barcelona, but I’m not sure he looks like their type of centre-forward.
“Barcelona don’t really play with an out-and-out centre-forward, they like to play down the channels and Real Madrid are similar. Kane is like an old-fashioned centre-forward and is a wonderful talent.”
Whether Kane is the right type of striker for Real or Barca is not what Spurs fans care about. With a new stadium under construction and a top manager in Pochettino, Kane is an integral part of Tottenham’s future - and their chances of winning the Premier League.
Responding to Hoddle’s praise, the man himself said: “It’s great praise. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Hearing their talisman’s words will be music to the ears of Spurs fans. And the optimistic mood of the Tottenham supporters was summed up in this tweet by @Tomfoins87. He wrote on Twitter: “Genuinely starting to feel like Harry Kane is God paying us back for so many years of being Spurs fans.”
It’s not just Tottenham fans who should be pleased though. With a World Cup on the horizon, England fans will also be hoping Kane continues his hot streak in front of goal.
With ten goals in 21 appearances, Kane has impressed since scoring on his England debut against Lithuania at Wembley in March 2015.
Until then though Kane and Spurs have the Premier League and Champions League to focus on. Kane will be looking to make sure September ends on a high against Huddersfield on Saturday before going into the busy autumn schedule.
October and November will see Spurs take on Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal in the league and double header against Real Madrid in Europe.
On this form can anyone stop the Harrikane?
