Tottenham striker Harry Kane capped an "unreal" season on Sunday evening when he landed the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
The 21-year-old, who has scored 30 goals in all competitions for Spurs this term despite not getting a regular starting slot until November, picked up the award in the ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.
He was also named in the Professional Footballers' Association's Premier League team of the year - the only English attacking player to make the XI.
Kane came through the White Hart Lane club's youth ranks and was farmed out for loan stints at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester to gain first-team experience.
He struck a free-kick winner from the bench at Aston Villa in early November and was then given a run of games by Mauricio Pochettino, with fellow frontmen Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor failing to deliver. And he has not looked back since.
"It is amazing. It is a very proud moment for myself and my family – hopefully the first of many to come," Kane said of his award.
"I have got to keep working hard, but to be recognised by your fellow players is something special and it is a night I wont forget.
"It is incredible, an incredible feeling."
Asked to sum up his season in one word, Kane went for: "Unreal."
Never doubting himself, had he been told 12 months ago this was his destiny, Kane said: "I'd have said let's do it - let's get it on.
"A lot has changed since then but I have always believed in my ability and have been waiting for a chance to express myself. I didn't think it would go as quickly as it has done but I have managed to ride the wave and the season has got better and better.
"I got the opportunity with the gaffer and I have really enjoyed my season so far - I have taken my chance and this is why we are here."
Kane has been the shining light of the Tottenham side, and said: "We have worked hard and I have worked hard to get to where we are now. It is going great and hopefully it is the start with more to come."
His stand-out occasion of the season came not in a Tottenham shirt, but when Roy Hodgson ushered him into the England side, Kane scoring after 79 seconds of his debut off the bench against Lithuania on March 27, in a European Championship qualifier.
Asked for his favourite moment, Kane said: "Making my England debut and getting that goal - it was a very proud moment. It made it even more special.
"For a footballer, to represent their country is the pinnacle, and I'm very proud. I was able to do that and it was a moment I won't forget."
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino tipped the Chingford-born forward for even bigger things after he scored in the recent 3-1 win at Newcastle, to become the first Spurs player since Gary Lineker in 1992 to reach 30 club goals in a season.
"He has big potential," the Argentinian said. "He is young and this is his first full season in the first team. We need to push him to try to improve his level because he has the potential to improve.
"He's happy in the changing room and all his team-mates are happy, and I think all our supporters and the club are happy at his achievement."
Kane captained the north London outfit for the first time in a goalless draw at Burnley earlier this month.
He also helped Pochettino's side reach the Capital One Cup final, where they lost 2-0 to Chelsea.
No comments:
Post a Comment