Premier League’s three kings in a race to break through 40-goal barrier
WHO will be first to magic milestone? No top flight player has scored 40 goals in an English season since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. As Harry Kane, Mohamed Salah and Sergio Aguero all close in on that target, our experts analyse how they have done it
Harry Kane Biggest strengths
Kane’s ball striking is superb. Even when he misses, he has usually hit the ball cleanly. When manager Mauricio Pochettino gives his players an afternoon off, Kane will often contact the rest of Tottenham’s attacking players to organise an hour of extra shooting practice. Kane’s shooting practice is strictly set to between 100 and 150 balls in the hour and all shots must be taken from inside the box and replicate genuine shooting positions that come up during games.
Who does he rely on most?
Dele Alli has developed a telepathy with Kane that often sees the pair link up to score, but Kane is not dependent on one team-mate or one particular chance. If Alli is having an off day, then Kane is just as likely to score from a cross from either Kieran Trippier or Ben Davies. Should the opposition manage to cut off that supply line the full-backs, then there is Christian Eriksen to thread a pass through or deliver a set-piece.
Area he has most improved
Everything. This has been what is so impressive about Kane, his dedication to improve every aspect of his game. He was rejected by Arsenal for being too chubby and this was rectified at Tottenham as he slimmed down with age. But pictures of him before Pochettino’s arrival show a tall, gangly youngster whose arms did not quite fill out the sleeves of his shirt.
How can he be stopped?
The past few seasons would tell us Kane cannot be stopped, as long as it is not August. The striker has still yet to score in that month for Spurs, but there is little opposition defenders can do about him hitting the net from September onwards. The only hope for Premier League defenders is that Kane one day goes to La Liga, but the 24-year-old appears desperate to achieve all of his dreams with Tottenham.