Tottenham are blessed to have a striker obsessed with goals and records.
Harry Kane drew level with club legend Jimmy Greaves on 266 goals in all competitions to put himself on 199 Premier League goals, with only Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) ahead of him. It is only a matter of time before Kane breaks Greaves’ tally and chases down more records as he may yet put loyalty and personal success ahead of trophies.
The 29-year-old will have just one year left on his contract this summer but may just be ready to stay and become a one-club man, which would only enhance his legendary status. England captain Kane scored his first Spurs goal against Shamrock Rovers in December 2011 and has been scoring ever since for club and country.
It certainly saved Tottenham’s night at Craven Cottage and, even amid a mood of uncertainty and frustration at White Hart Lane, the fans know they can count on Kane. For that reason, surely Kane deserves praise and respect rather than people questioning his ambition. He flirted with Manchester City 18 months ago but now, as time goes by, it is harder to see him leaving.
Certainly when the Tottenham fans are clinging to him as their main hope. They made their voices heard at Fulham when the away end was shouting “We want Daniel Levy out” at the Tottenham chairman. It was one-way traffic at Craven Cottage as Fulham dominated early on and clearly had a game plan to test Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after his recent blunders.
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But Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Andreas Pereira saw long range efforts dealt with comfortably by Lloris, who also made a smart stop from Harrison Reed. Son Heung-min was lucky to escape with just a yellow card for an X-rated challenge on Fulham’s Kenny Tete with the visitors struggling to create any chances.
Kane tried his luck but fired over from 25 yards while Emerson Royal’s near-post shot was pushed away by Fulham ‘keeper Bernd Leno. It was a pretty dull first half and needed something or someone to bring the game to life. That is when Kane is always at his best for club and country.
Kane’s eye for goal is priceless but also irreplaceable and is what drives him on. You can only admire his single-mindedness, loyalty and determination to break records. His opener was typical Kane. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg found Son, whose lay-off went into Kane’s feet, the England captain turned Fulham defender Tim Ream and then worked some space.
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Kane then guided a perfect, low shot into the bottom corner to leave Leno wrong footed and the travelling Tottenham fans chanting their captain’s name again. The hardcore away fans also sang Antonio Conte’s name despite the uncertainty surrounding the manager as they made it very clear where their loyalties lie.
Kane nearly equalled and broke the record in one night. Dejan Kulusevski’s cross found Ben Davies at the back post and his header flashed across goal. Kane’s bullet header looked certain to go in but somehow Leno kept it out with a brilliant reflect save.
That would have been the crowning glory on Kane’s night, but you can be certain there are dozens more goals to come.
