POCH: HAT-TRICK HERO HARRY IS WORLD CLASS
ANOTHER Sunday lunchtime in London, another hat-trick for Harry Kane. One week on from an FA Cup treble at Fulham and Tottenham’s goal hero feasted on three more to crush Stoke.
Spurs have smashed a dozen goals past Mark Hughes’s team in their last three encounters.
Kane has half of them, and three inside 23 first- half minutes at White Hart Lane unleashed another barrage of statistics about his phenomenal strike-rate.
Among them, the fact that he is the first Tottenham player since Jimmy Greaves in 1969 to break the 20-goal barrier in three successive seasons, a return which puts the 23-year-old well on the way to legendary status.
‘He is one of the best in the world,’ said manager Mauricio Pochettino. ‘With big potential. He can still improve. His mentality is the best.
‘Maybe he’s starting to be a legend already with the goals and the way he behaves. He is so professional. He has the perfect profile to be a legend here.
‘Sometimes he argues with me. Sometimes he’s upset with me. Sometimes he’s happy. He’s a strong character, a top man. I am pleased for him. He deserves it.’
This easy win was Tottenham’s eighth successive Premier League home victory, equalling a club record set in 2009.
With it, they moved back into second, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, still on course for a swift return to the Champions League and a chance to atone for the forgettable European campaign which limped to a close against Gent at Wembley on Thursday.
Concerns about centre halves Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, replaced early in the second half, were eased by Pochettino, who said both should be fit to face Everton on Sunday.
With his team 4-0 up, there was no sense in taking chances. Dele Alli grabbed the fourth at the end of the first half, a goal set up by Kane, to prove there is a team ethic to go with his relentless quest for goals.
His treble took his haul for the season to 22 and was a third hat-trick in nine games and his sixth in total. No one has more for Spurs than his four in the Premier League.
His opener was his most typical goal, a clinical finish. Christian Eriksen burrowed into a crowded penalty area and, when the ball bobbled his way, Kane lashed it low inside the far post.
Another milestone: this was his 100th goal in club football. ‘I remember the first,’ Kane said. ‘Leyton Orient against Sheffield Wednesday, a back-post header, a poacher’s goal.’
He can score all types. The second against Stoke was brimming with technical excellence. Eriksen aimed a corner towards the edge of the box where Kane met it with a sweet left-footed volley which nestled into the same corner of Lee Grant’s net.
His third came with good fortune from a free-kick. Eriksen rolled it short and Kane’s low drive clipped Peter Crouch in the defensive wall and the deviation deceived Grant.
Crouch, warmly applauded on his return to White Hart Lane, squandered a fine chance to level when Stoke were one down. Having escaped his marker and an offside flag to reach an Erik Pieters cross, Crouch was unable to beat Hugo Lloris from close range.
Lloris saved with his legs and Tottenham did not look back. Vertonghen rattled the bar. Kane swerved another effort wide and Grant denied Kyle Walker.
Just as Stoke neared the sanctuary of half-time they leaked the fourth, defending flimsily. Hughes
said: ‘ Every one of the goals was poor from our point of view.’
Kane turned Bruno Martins Indi near half-way and sped towards goal, feigned to shoot and pulled a pass square to Alli, who arrived, sliding in at pace to slam the ball high into the net.
After his needless red card left Spurs in trouble against Gent, his first goal in seven games was a reminder of his ability to influence games in a more positive way.
‘He was sad and disappointed,’ said Pochettino. ‘He is only 20 and I will always protect and support him. Our conversations are private but in the last few days I gave him more love than normal. Sometimes he can make a mistake but I want him on the pitch.’
Spurs coasted home. Stoke, back from six days in Dubai, improved after the break but the delivery into the box was poor and they rarely troubled Lloris.
‘We expected more,’ said Hughes. ‘Maybe we were a little bit awestruck at times. We gave them too much respect and we were picked off. It’s not good enough really.
‘We allowed good players time to get their shots off. Maybe there are a few scars. Spurs are the one side who clearly give us problems. We’ve been in decent form and need to get that back.’
At least they will not see Spurs and Kane again this season.