Tottenham 2017-18 Player Preview: Harry Kane

In our final Tottenham player preview, we look at a man who hardly needs previewing: reigning Golden Boot winner Harry Kane.

Despite two injury lay-offs, Kane managed to bag seven goals in Tottenham’s final two matches of the 2016/17 season to secure himself that honor for the second consecutive season.

Those two matches were the culmination of three years of marvelous play. It took until November of Mauricio Pochettino’s first season at the club for the Argentinian to trust Kane with a starting role, and he was richly rewarded with 30 goals in all competitions from the young English striker.

A slow start to the following season had pundits delighting in yet another one-season-wonder — right up until Kane stormed back and won his first Golden Boot in a second in which Spurs finished third.

Somehow doubts still lingered ahead of last season. Whether it was the arrival of Vincent Janssen or the lingering shock that Tottenham were now one of the best teams in England, it just didn’t seem possible to some that Kane could sustain his pace.

Those injuries seemed to vindicate the doubters, but clearly Kane didn’t listen. He joined the ranks of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Robin Van Persie in winning his second consecutive Golden Boot.

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So is there anyway to doubt Kane now?

A case could be made that, when fit for a full season, Sergio Agüero is the better striker. Up until those last two matches, it seemed more likely that Romelu Lukaku or Alexis Sánchez would take the Golden Boot. Newcomers Alexandre Lacazette and Álvaro Morata might also make a dent in Kane’s hopes to claim his third boot.

More important than Kane’s individual performance is how well he fits in to Pochettino’s set up at Tottenham. He is the embodiment of the kind of striker required. Lethal in and outside the area, he is also an all-action contributor to the build up play in the final third. Far from presenting simply a poaching or physical threat, Kane — like so many other players in Spurs’ starting XI — is two players in one.

There is little chance that Pochettino makes the mistake of undercutting Kane’s role again this season as well.

Last time out, the arrival of Janssen over the summer conjured notions that perhaps both Kane and the Dutchman can feature in the same XI. Thankfully, early dud performances from both players dispelled that notion rather quickly.

Next: Tottenham Lineup Predictor: Away at Newcastle

Which is why it is safe to assume that, if he stays fit, Kane will again be at or near the top of the goalscoring charts come the season’s end. His individual talent compliments his chemistry with his Spurs teammates too well for any other outcome.