Carry on with the no-buy policy and Kane might be butting the exit door

IF it was a headbutt, it was of the familiar footballing variety – not the one from everyday life.

Common in the Premier League, but a rare breed in general, it was the nonhurting headbutt, more a gentle, rutting ritual than some heinous act of violence.

It was too early in the game against Chelsea on Wednesday night to have been born solely out of frustration – and it has rightly brought no punishment.

But it did flag up a feisty side to Harry Kane that he generally keeps well in check.

He averages a yellow card once every 10 or so matches and has been sent off only once in his professional career – for two bookable offences while playing on loan for Leyton Orient at Huddersfield Town eight years ago. By the end of the Chelsea defeat, Kane was probably feeling a lot more frustrated than he did when going nose-to-nose with Cesar Azpilicueta (below).

Not so much because the spectre of a real fight for a topfour finish now looms, but because it was official confirmation – as if it had been needed – that the race for the Premier League is a twohorse affair.

Tottenham still have to go to the Etihad and to Anfield, but you can back them at 250-1 to win the title. And Mauricio Pochettino would not even waste YOUR money on that wager. Matter-of-factly, he said it was “impossible”.

In fact, prior to the match, he has suggested it might take Spurs anything from five to 10 years to develop the mentality of genuine challengers. No wonder Kane might have been frustrated. As he prepared to make his return from injury, Kane had the prospect of a three-way title race to look forward to.

A couple of defeats in five days – and that has gone. On top of that, Pochettino believes it might take a decade’s work to make Spurs ultra-serious contenders. He surely cannot believe that, but it will still alarm Kane and will still alarm Dele Alli.

If the mentality and attitude were wrong in the defeats at Burnley and Chelsea, maybe it is because the squad has been stretched by the no-buy transfer policy.

Sure, the cost of the new stadium has had an effect and it was even a touch refreshing to see a coach not complain about being encouraged to work with and develop the exciting talent already at his disposal.

But when Pochettino essentially says you get found out over 10 months, he could have added that you get found out when you do not freshen things even a little in two transfer windows. In fact, in one of them, you sell Mousa Dembele, who, in terms of the fight Pochettino suggested has occasionally been lacking, could not be faulted.

This is still a good season for Spurs. They should progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and should have enough in the tank to finish in the Premier League’s top four.

But Kane, despite signing that huge long-term contract last year, remains on the radar of most elite European clubs.

Clubs that will believe and are convinced they have the mentality of title challengers right now.

And if the no-buy policy goes on and if Pochettino continues to dampen expectations, Kane might just be headbutting the exit door.

Few would blame him.