Kane gunning to be Europe’s top marksman
Harry Kane registered his seventh hat-trick of 2017 on Saturday, during Tottenham’s 3-0 victory at Burnley, joining the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski and Edinson Cavani on the 53-goal mark.
He is now just one behind Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, but will stand alone if he succeeds in scoring more than once against Southampton at Wembley this afternoon, while a single goal would still allow him to surpass Alan Shearer’s 22-year-old Premier League mark for goals in a calendar year, which stands at 36.
“Obviously going into the game [at Burnley], people were talking about it and I was three behind [Shearer],” Kane said. “I just hoped to get one or two to take into Boxing Day. Thankfully I got the hat-trick. Hopefully I can do the same on Tuesday.”
Even if he does not do so, the sheer magnificence of his haul should not be understated. There may be ifs, buts and maybes attached, but on form who would wager against Kane – on 93 Premier League goals – reeling Shearer’s overall Premier League record of 260 goals into view before long?
Kane’s attentions have not been diverted, however, from ensuring that Tottenham, who occupy fifth place, regain their spot in the top four and are ready for Juventus when the Champions League campaign resumes in February.
“Of course you dream about it, but I’d be silly to look that far ahead,” he said. “A lot can happen in football. Hopefully I can stay fit, stay sharp and we’ll see what happens.
“Maybe if I get to 200 and I’ve got a few more years left, I’ll start to think about it. For now I’m concentrating on each game. I’ve had a great 2017 and hopefully I can improve in 2018 and get even better.”
Tottenham’s fortunes are also anchored to the performances of Dele Alli. The 21-year-old midfielder played a prominent role at Turf Moor, signalling that he may be on an upward curve following a spell of indifferent form.
After shrugging off an early booking and the ensuing fury of the home supporters by engineering a penalty two minutes later, Alli exhibited a maturity that has occasionally been absent from his play. “He was the pantomime villain,” Kane said. “He had two assists – the penalty and my third one. That’s when he’s at his best.
“He’s a great person and a great player. He’s got that aggressive side to him, that’s what makes him who he is. I don’t think he stepped over the mark.”
Despite Tottenham’s capacity to challenge for the title having faded during their temporary residence at Wembley, manager Mauricio Pochettino said the experience would be beneficial in the longer term.
“I am discovering different things about the team and learning about them every day,” he said.
“We were third, then second in the Premier League. Next is a transition as we move from our stadium to Wembley. So the expectation cannot be the same. They are giving their best and there is no doubt that we are going to finish in a very good way.”