Harry Kane
Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images

Name one of the best strikers in the world. The answer that many people give is Harry Kane. Why? Because he is Tottenham’s go-to man, he is their talisman for whom success generally relies upon.

Kane’s goal against West Ham was hailed by current boss Jose Mourinho, who has since labelled the England captain “Hero Kane”. In fact, with Kane back in the side after a number of injury spells, Spurs are now 15/8 an online casino and betting platforms to triumph against Everton on Monday night as the race for the top four heats up.

But, just where did the striker come from and just where does his future lie?

School and youth career

Joining Chingford Foundation School where David Beckham also attended, Kane’s footballing prowess was ingrained in him from an early age as the beautiful game ran through his school walls like a knife through butter. Kane, of course, was born with a football at his feet, joining local club Ridgeway Rovers as a six-year-old in 1999.

After failing to earn a contract at his first youth trial club – Arsenal – Kane went on to have a spell at Watford. It was in a game against Tottenham that the striker – then an attacking midfielder – impressed the camp at White Hart Lane so much that he was brought back after a disappointing first trial.

League penetration

Loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City were sandwiched either side of Kane’s debut under Harry Redknapp in 2011. It was a second-leg Europa League tie against Scottish side Hearts. With Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart rested given the 5-0 thrashing in the first-leg it gave the likes of Kane the opportunity to stake a claim.

It wasn’t until Tim Sherwood, however, that the striker was given his first real opportunity. Scoring three consecutive Premier League games in April 2014, Kane put pen to paper on a five-year contract extension to provide competition as Argentine Mauricio Pochettino took the reins.

A true competitor and sportsman

As they say, the rest is history as Kane scooped up the Young Player of the Year in 2015 as well as the Golden Boot in consecutive seasons after that, and he is even in the running to do the same this year and is priced at 5/1 with online pokies and betting sites to do so. What makes his rise even more remarkable is that Roberto Soldado was his first competitor for the striker spot. A £30 million signing was forced out of the reckoning by a young Londoner.

That turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Spurs who have since enjoyed a number of successive years in the Champions League with Kane delivering the goods. In fact, the 6 ft 2 forward is now Tottenham’s third highest all-time top scorer with 182 goals in 280 games, including 137 Premier League goals in a mere 202 games.

No wonder then, that he continues to be linked with a move away. That is a move that could become increasingly likely if Spurs fail to qualify for the Champions or even Europa League this season. With the likes of Manchester United said to be after him, could his passion for his beloved Tottenham be overruled by his desire to win trophies?

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