Harry Kane: Tottenham striker one of world's best - Mauricio Pochettino

Media caption,

Kane one of world's best - Pochettino

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says Harry Kane is "one of the best strikers in the world", and insists the club can keep their best players this summer.

Kane, 23, scored four in Thursday's 6-1 win at Leicester to move to the top the golden boot standings, ahead of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.

Pochettino said: "Harry Kane's a special player, he loves Tottenham.

"The players we want to keep will be here next season. If any players leave, it's Tottenham's decision."

Media caption,

Leicester made it too easy for Kane - Shakespeare

Kane, the Premier League's top scorer last season with 25, moved to 26 for this campaign with two late goals in the victory at the King Power Stadium.

Kane, midfielder Dele Alli and defender Kyle Walker continue to be linked with transfers, but Pochettino says the club are in control of the England internationals' futures.

"I think we are so, so, so calm about our big players and they are so happy here," said the Argentine.

"We are building a very exciting project. The players must feel they are part of us and want to share in our success.

"Harry Kane means a lot for the team. I tell you always that he's one of the best strikers in the world. His performances show that we are right."

Kane wants the golden boot

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Kane has scored two goals more than Everton's Romelu Lukaku and three more than Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal

Kane has missed eight league games with injury this season but looks set to finish as top scorer, unless Everton striker Lukaku or Arsenal forward Sanchez have a remarkable final day of the season.

The latter two players will be on opposing sides at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, while Kane and Spurs go to Hull. All 10 Premier League matches on Sunday kick off at 15:00 BST.

Kane averages a goal every 94 minutes in the league this season, and unsurprisingly described the campaign as his best yet.

"It probably could have been more," he said.

"It is the first time in my professional career that I've scored four, there has been a bit of build-up in the race for the golden boot and I wanted at least one or two to put the pressure on - but to get four is amazing.

"This is my best season. I missed 11 weeks and worked hard during my injury to ensure I came back in better shape than I started."

Kane's top-flight goals this term have earned Spurs 13 points, which is second only behind Chelsea striker Diego Costa's 20 goals, earning the Blues 15 points.

Image caption,

Only six players have scored more Premier League trebles than Kane. Ex-Newcastle and Blackburn striker Alan Shearer heads the list with 11.

How Kane ranks in Europe

Highest scorers in Europe's top five leagues (2016-17)

Goals

Games

Goals per game

Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

35

33

1.06

Edinson Cavani (PSG)

35

35

1

Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

30

32

0.94

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)

29

31

0.94

Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Harry Kane (Tottenham)

26

29

0.9

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

24

28

0.86

Luis Suarez (Barcelona)

28

34

0.82

Edin Dzeko (Roma)

27

35

0.77

Andrea Belotti (Torino), Anthony Modeste (Cologne), Dries Mertens (Napoli)

25

33

0.76

Analysis

Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Townsend:

Harry Kane always hits the target, he is always looking to work goalkeepers.

He has 51 goals in two seasons and that is great numbers. Those who work with him and know him will say he deserves it.

He works incredibly hard at his game. He is determined. He has taken a few knocks along the way but he is showing everything he has got right now.

He is a combination of [former England strike partners] Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer.

Kane in numbers

Image caption,

The Manchester City striker finds the net every 111 minutes. (Measured on players who have scored a minimum of 50 Premier League goals).

  • Kane is the fifth player in Premier League history to score 25 or more goals in successive seasons - Robbie Fowler, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Robin van Persie are the others.

  • Kane has now scored 10 goals against Leicester, more than against any other side.

  • Kane is the fifth player to score three or more hat-tricks in a Premier League season.

  • In Kane, Alli and Son Heung-min, Tottenham now have three players with 20 or more goals in all competitions this season - more than any other club in the Premier League or the EFL.

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