Harry Kane’s astonishing rise shows no sign of slowing, with Mauricio Pochettino full of praise for the Tottenham striker after his match-winning display at QPR.
Few at the start of the season were clamouring for the 21-year-old to be in the Spurs starting line-up, never mind the national set-up.
However, Kane’s Roy of the Rovers rise continues apace and on Saturday he netted twice as QPR were seen off 2-1, moving Spurs to within three points of the Champions League places.
England manager Roy Hodgson was at Loftus Road as the striker increased his tally to 26 goals in all competitions, producing a performance which will only improve his chances of a first senior call-up.
“It was a fantastic performance, he scored two goals,” Spurs head coach Pochettino said. “He is young, can improve more and now it is Roy’s decision.
“I don’t know if (he deserves a call-up). Roy needs to decide whether this it time to pick him or not.
“I think that today was a great game, a great performance. We showed character, I am very pleased for our players.
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“I think it was a fantastic performance in a very, very difficult game because QPR are a team who are very brave and the way they play is difficult to stop.
“It was difficult to play our game and that doesn’t help, but I think we showed character and played much better than QPR and fully deserved three points.”
Kane was not the only impressive English performer in west London, where Ryan Mason and QPR striker Charlie Austin also stood out.
It was Sandro rather than latter who netted the hosts’ late goal, though, meaning his former club had to hold tight to get their second win in quick succession – the ideal response to the recent Europa League and Capital One Cup disappointments.
“It is a very, very good response,” Pochettino added. “I am very happy for them, very pleased for them.
“After two defeats in Florence and in the Capital One Cup against Chelsea, the performance was fantastic against Swansea and today.
“For that, they deserve two days off and to start training again on Tuesday.”
In some way, QPR counterpart Chris Ramsey played a part in his side’s downfall having helped bring through the likes of Kane and Mason during nine years at Tottenham.
Understandably, the Hoops boss preferred not to speak much about his former charges, preferring instead to focus on his side’s display after their latest defeat.
“I think they did well again and I know you will probably say that I am saying it every week, but I think if you’re a football person you will see the players did apply themselves very well,” Ramsey said.
“I just think that when you are playing top teams or any team in the Premier League, you need that little bit of fortune at times just to go your way.
“I think that when you’re playing teams like the Arsenals and Tottenhams, they do have that little bit of quality that even if they are not playing well, they may pull something out of the bag.”
Ramsey may not have had any complaints about his players’ application, but he echoed those QPR fans frustrated to see a number of penalty appeals rejected.
“Sometimes there are decisions that are fine lines, but I think when you’re fighting for every point like we are, you have to try to grab on to anything you can,” he said.
“Momentum always changes with goals, you know that, so I am very disappointed that we couldn’t get at least one of those decisions.”
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