Harry Kane is talking and training like Cristiano Ronaldo… the Spurs and England star out to rule world
Striker shares the same commitment, the same dedication, the same drive and determination as one of game’s greatest players
HE sounded like Cristiano Ronaldo.
Harry Kane shares the same commitment, the same dedication, the same drive and determination as one of the game’s greatest players.
England’s latest captain will make any sacrifice — with the exception of the occasional slice of apple pie — if it will take him to the very top.
Hopefully some of this stuff rubs off on the rest of the Three Lions squad because Kane, 24, made for compelling viewing yesterday.
He has become the model pro.
His talismanic presence, along with 13 goals in eight appearances for club and country last month, made it a simple decision for Gareth Southgate to throw him the armband.
In short, nobody else in the England side can get anywhere near to Kane’s level at the minute. He is a phenomenon.
Southgate, speaking about the Spurs striker’s decision to employ a personal chef, said: “Harry is the kind of role model I want.
“You’re talking about a player trying to maximise his ability and finding every edge. Marginal gains make a difference at this level.
“You want a mindset in a player who wants to become one of the best in the world. For me, that’s a mindset that inspires others.
“The more people I have in my squad like that, it becomes a self- fulfilling prophecy with everyone striving for more.
“Then everybody is hungry. They know where they want to be.”
Kane knows exactly where he wants to be.
He skilfully and diplomatically handled questions about his future with Spurs after yet more links to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Of course they want him. They would be barmy not to.
At this level, the sharp end of the industry, dealing with this sort of stuff becomes an art. Kane said: “I’d never say no or yes to playing abroad. It’s not something I definitely want to do but you never rule anything out.
“I am very happy at Tottenham but we will see what happens.”
Spurs is home for him and so is Wembley.
This is the little boy who was taken to England games, his face painted with the St George’s Cross, by his parents.
He has sat in the stands, watched Wembley’s heroes on that pitch and dreamed of glory just like the rest of us.
His 22nd England cap will be different because he leads out his country at Wembley tonight with the armband on for the first time, against Slovenia in this World Cup qualifier.
Nobody, not even the most rabid Arsenal fan, could deny him. He deserves it.
Kane added: “It makes me very proud. Growing up as a kid you dream about playing for your country and being captain. Walking out at Wembley as captain will be an amazing thing for me.”
He has risen to every challenge of his career so far, working his way into the Tottenham side after those lean spells lolloping around at Leyton Orient, Millwall and Norwich on loan.
Even yesterday, despite the hullabaloo around Southgate’s captaincy decision, Kane had the good grace to namecheck Tottenham’s Under-15 coach Bradley Allen for his progress.
Allen, a decent goalscorer himself in his heyday with QPR and Charlton, spotted a flaw in Kane’s game when he came across him last season.
The response since has been remarkable.
Kane added: “Bradley Allen was great for me as a kid and we did extra finishing. He asked why I kept cutting back on my right foot last year and not taking it on my left.
“This season it has worked out well for me because I’m scoring with my left.”
His second goal against Huddersfield last weekend, in a crushing 4-0 win, was off his left peg.
Kane, 84 goals in to his Premier League career, knows the score.
He is quick to praise and eager to please after becoming the main man for club and country.
Kane explained: “I don’t see it as pressure because when people talk about me it means I am doing well.
“I’ve worked on scoring from a young age — low and hard and into the corner, that’s the most basic thing.
“Some people try to score the perfect goal into the top corner to look good, but that’s not important to me.
“Low and hard and across the keeper are the most difficult to save, and I don’t mind how they go in.
“I want to keep getting better and better. When people don’t talk about me I will start worrying because it means I won’t be doing as well.
“Messi and Ronaldo do it every week. That’s what I aspire to do.”
With this level of commitment, there is every chance he will.