HARRY SPOTTER
Keeper Jamie jokes he set up Kane for stardom after giving the Spurs rookie toughest of debuts
Jamie MacDonald has watched Harry Kane’s rise to World Cup superstardom with interest.
Knowing that as Hearts keeper, he gave the Spurs star the toughest of lessons on his club debut.
And that it perhaps helped Kane prepare mentally for the career challenges that lay ahead.
The England skipper is lighting up Russia 2018 and will be looking to steer England into the last 16 today when Gareth Southgate’s side take on Panama.
The striker saved them in their opening group game with a brace that saw off Tunisia.
The 24-year-old’s stock will rise further if he continues to score goals at the World Cup – with some saying he’ll be worth £150million.
But whatever Harry goes on to achieve – he’ll never forget how MacDonald spoiled his Tottenham debut by saving his penalty. Spurs had beaten Hearts 5- 0 in a Europa League qualifier at Tynecastle in 2011 so Harry Redknapp gave the 18-year-old a chance in the return.
But after being tripped by the keeper in the box, Kane couldn’t score from the spot. Jamie, now at Kilmarnock, stole the limelight by keeping a clean sheet in a 0- 0 draw.
And watching the World Cup at home, the goalie joked that he might just have played a part in the Kane success story.
MacDonald said: “Kane is a superstar of world football now.
“But in 2011 he was a kid and that night would have been a big occasion. No one could have imagined then he’d go on to do what he’s done. He’s now wor th over £100m, a key scorer in the Premier League and captain of England at the World Cup.
“It has been an unbelievable rise. He’s probably the best out-and-out striker in the world.
“He has improved year on year since that Hearts game.
“But it says a lot that he wanted to take the penalty on his first game for Spurs. It showed a bit of character to step up and take it considering the players who were on the pitch with him.
“My save didn’t get too much prominence at the time because no one really knew about Kane.
“But it does get brought up a few times now. And looking back it’s a nice achievement to have on my CV – saving a Harry Kane
penalty. Maybe I’ve helped him in a way and he’s mentally stronger for me saving his penalty!”
That penalty stop at White Hart Lane is one of the highlights of Jamie’s career. He could easily have been red-carded for his trip on the Spurs hitman but was granted a reprieve by Greek official Anastassios Kakos. He said: “I was last man when I brought Kane down and I was just praying the ref wouldn’t send me off.
“It was still early in the game I was just hoping he’d take into consideration that we’d been scudded 5- 0 in the first leg!
“Kane got on to a through ball and just nicked it ahead of me. I tried to get a touch but he knocked it past and I hit him. The first thing I did when I got up was say to the ref: ‘Please don’t send me off.’ “I was surprised to see Kane hit the penalty because he was only 18 years old and it was his debut. “I guessed he’d want to hit it as hard as he possibly could. “And I thought he’d be more than likely to go down the middle or my right.
“I was never going to stay down the middle so I went right – and it paid off.
“It was a guess. But I got a good hand on it and we cleared the danger. It turned out to be a good night after that.”
MacDonald now marvels at Kane’s goals on TV both for club and country.
And he feels Kane can be a key man in Southgate’s side reaching the knock-out phase.
He said: “Kane can be pivotal for them in terms of progressing in the Wo r l d Cup. The top teams have had a wee fright in the opening round of games.
“It’s the most open World Cup we’ve had in a long time.
“Normally there’s two or three teams you expect could win – this time it could be one of 10, including England.
“They need a bit of luck but Kane has shown how important he is to them with his goals already.”
Maybe I’ve helped him ... and he’s mentally stronger for me saving his penalty