Harry Kane – Tottenham unearth themselves a striking gem
Harry Kane sounds like a gangster from a Guy Ritchie movie, but he is actually Spurs’ latest young star to have been tipped for great things. Whilst he is not yet a household name amongst football fans, that could well change in the next few years. The 17 year old is regarded as one of the club’s top academy prospects, on Kane’s biography on the official Spurs’ website it says,
“Playing just behind a central striker, Harry made a huge impact during his first full season in our Academy, establishing himself as one of the most highly-rated young players at the club.”
Harry Kane is a product of the Spurs’ youth system and in the 2008-09 season played in the Under-16′s side that competed in the Copa Chivas and Bellinzona tournaments in Mexico, scoring three goals.
In the 2009/10 season Kane played 22 times for Tottenham’s Under-18′s, scoring an impressive 18 goals, he was also named on the first team bench for two matches last season, which is no mean feat for a 17 year old in what is a strong Spurs’ squad. Kane’s good form for Tottenham did not go unnoticed, and he made his international debut for England Under-17′s during the campaign. So far he has made three appearances for England Under-17′s, scoring two goals in the process. Upon his call up to England, Spurs’ Under-18 coach Alex Inglethorpe stated on the club’s website that,
“It’s fantastic for the academy and Harry that he’s been recognised in this way. He’s a lovely lad, a terrific young player with a great work ethic and one who will keep on improving.”
Kane is also renowned as something of a dead ball specialist, scoring two free kicks in one game for the Under-17′s against Watford last season. With set-pieces becoming an increasingly important part of the game, this will stand Kane in good stead to make an impact as he steps up to the next level.
Goals are the currency of football and any player who can score a lot of them will always be in high demand. Harry Kane’s youth career has so far yielded a good number of goals, and this is what has made him really stand out in the Spurs’ academy. Kane is amongst some other highly rated young prospects at Tottenham, with Dean Parrett and John Bostock the most notable of these. These players add to the already large stock of exciting young English players Spurs’ have on their books, including Danny Rose, Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton to name just a few, whilst Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone are still only 23.
Harry Kane may not be a name known by many outside Tottenham Hotspur, but if he can continue the excellent form he has showed in his fledgling career to date his reputation is sure to grow. Goalscoring will never fail to get a player noticed, and Spurs’ and England fans will be hoping he is just as lethal as his career progresses.
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Now not a lot of people know that. OOOPs sorry that was Michael Caine LOL
I’d love to see a youngster like Kane make the breakthrough at Spurs as there is always something nice about seeing a lad rise through the ranks. But lets not forget that Lee Barnard scored for fun season after season in reserves and youth teams despite a few nasty injuries yet was still deemed surplus to requirements before getting a proper first team look in! These kids need a chance and I like the fact that Harry loans them out so freely. Lets hope a few of them can really make it big at Spurs. It will be harder than ever now the stakes are so high! COYS
How many youth players have made it into the first squad over the last few years. I can not think of any. Such is the world of money and pressure at the top level that teams and managers just get the time to blood young talent like the old days when it was essential to find gems to save the club money etc.
What with the tv, media, sponsorships, champions league and premier league pressures there is no time to just blend these players in. Unless you put them in the carling cup. But even then that cup is used to rotate squad players who dont play regularly not academy players.
If a manager risks playing these players and then has a bad run its point dropped – and managers gone and that just isnt something managers have in their mind ethic these days.
How many clubs in the top flight in the premier division actually put in youth players and have made it over the past few years.
Spurs dont even have a reserve team in a league no more such was the lack of importance in their agenda. Do you think these players then will make the 1st team. Will be a long time esp when spurs have the money to buy a van der vaart for £8million to get immediate success such is the world today depicts from clubs, chairman, managers and supporters.
Before we get carried away do the names Jamie Slabber and Lee Barnard ring any bells.
Both where prolific scorers in the Spurs system, adn have completely fell of the face of the earth
will he now get a chance on the bench with the injuries to defoe and crouch?
well hopefully he carries on progressing and gets his chance.
not sure wether opting out of the reserve league was a good idea. only way i can see it as being good would be to have no reserve players and just use the youth players we got if we need them.
also we should play our youth players in carling cup games, this could be a perfect time to help blood the youth into our main team.
coys
Not forgetting Terry Dixon either…Scoring goals in kids football is one thing,doing it in the Adult world a completly different kettle of fish.
The reserve team was withdrawn as the club felt there was a lack of competitiveness in the reserve league. The Spurs XI now play a number of behind closed doors fixtures which provides fringe players with match fitness and academy players the chance to step up a level. We’re giving more players the opportunity to go out on long term loan deals to enhance their chances of making the grade or putting them in the shop window if its been decided that they may not be good enough for the club. A player that is playing week in, week out for a Championship or League One side is going to be worth more in the transfer market then a untried reserve. I’ve got faith in the system and the current crop of yooungsters look more likely to have an impact then previous generations, we’re also building a club style and ethic that will make it easier for youngsters to make the jump to the first team. If Harry Kane is good enough he’ll get the chance to show it.
I want the yoof playing …need all round strength stamina 90 min king exception came through ranks lennon rose from leeds bale soton yoof taarabt to QPR …gio? bostock hull all evolution food chain supply/demand asymmetry good luck to all spurs top boys …dudes posse outlaws.
Forget the rest this lad his the real deal. Kane will be able to rise to the top. To join our emerging stars Townsend Bostock Parrett Mason Caulker Walker Naughton Santos Dosantos Rose Livermore and Kanes team mate Fredericks
this guy went to my secondary school, his the year above me. also david beckham went to my school.. hmmm..
This is wonderful news I cant beleive little Harry’s finally getting his chance. I used to go round his mothers on occasions and bring a batch of my Banana Toffee Swirls. O how the Kane’s loved my cooking hehehehe. Lets just hope Harry doesnt turn out like my husband a lying thieving cheating fanny hustling arse with the looks of Lee Bowyer