Give Harry the ‘Oscar’
MASON: KANE HAS BEEN PREM’S MOST INFLUENTIAL PLAYER THIS SEASON... AND DESERVES TOP AWARDS
RYAN MASON insists Harry Kane deserves to be crowned Footballer of the Year, despite Spurs’ disappointing season.
Manchester City stars Ruben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are the most likely candidates for the prized accolade, and the players’ Player of the Year gong, on the back of their title win.
But Tottenham’s interim manager is convinced the England captain has done as much, if not more, than, any of them and that he deserves to edge the voting.
Mason (below) said: “In previous seasons, most recently as well, players have won that prize having not won the title.
“And Harry has probably been the most influential player in the Premier League this season.
“He has the joint most goals, most assists as well. So if the trophy or prize is won on who is the best player in the Premier League, then Harry has to be in the conversation.”
Like Mo Salah, Kane has 21 Premier League goals to his name and the Spurs man is out on his own in terms of assists with 13.
Mason added: “Consistently over the last five or six years, Harry has been one of the best players in the Premier League and this year has been no different.
“The trophy isn’t for the team of the league, it’s for the player of the league, who has been the best player over the course of the season.
“Harry is one of the best players in the world and statistically this season he has probably produced the best numbers.
“So why he is not in that conversation, I don’t know.”
Another man who has Mason purring is skipper Hugo Lloris. The French
World Cup winner, used to be Mason’s captain, and their relationship might have been awkward after the former midfielder was elevated to the hotseat after Jose Mourinho was sacked.
But Mason said: “It hasn’t been difficult at all and I can’t praise Hugo enough.
“As a player, I looked up to him, he was my captain, he led the football club.
He’s incredibly professional and he has been key to helping me in this role.
“The respect Hugo has shown me, as someone who has won the World Cup and is one of the best keepers in the world, has been outstanding.
“The professionalism, his performances as well this season have been outstanding. I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“We’re lucky to have him at this club. We appreciate him, he is incredibly professional, incredibly humble. He’s a joy to work with.”
This afternoon, Mason is up against Wolves and Nuno Espirito Santo, another candidate for the job he covets as Mourinho’s long-term successor.
Mason added: “What I know is that this club has a massive game.
“And when you represent
Tottenham there’s no extra incentive to win a game of football. So my attention is on us.
“We’re at home, we want to win, we want to put in a performance that warrants that as well.”