Harry Kane was not on the scoresheet in Tottenham's 4-1 win against Southampton on Saturday. Four goals in a game and Kane not scoring one of them seems out of the ordinary, but it was true.
Spurs' win has taken them top of the Premier League, after the first game week and it was a solid performance from Antonio Conte's side. And the fact that Kane did not score - or assist - and neither did Son Heung-min highlights that they don't need to always rely on the two superstars for goals. The England captain had just two shots against the Saints and made two key passes.
However, it was only the first match of the season and Kane doesn't often score many goals in August. This season is a marked difference to what last summer brought with it though. The 29-year-old was involved in a transfer saga, which saw him seem close to making the move to Man City. Kane remained in N17 and after a slow start to the 2021/22 campaign, he got back to his best and was another player who has improved, since Conte's arrival.
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The three time Golden Boot winner scored 17 goals last season and scored five during Tottenham's pre-season matches. Rio Ferdinand has already made a prediction about how well he believes Kane will do this season.
"Harry Kane will win the Golden Boot this season. I think the Conte effect and how fit he gets his teams will help him," Ferdinand told William Hill. "Harry Kane normally never scores in August but I think he might change that this season with the impact of a full pre-season under Conte. You saw the impact it had on Romelu Lukaku under Conte at Inter Milan in Serie A.
"I think Kane will win Player of the Year this season too. I think for goals and assists, he’ll be right up there in those charts. And I think that Spurs will be closer to Manchester City and Liverpool this year, and he’ll have a big impact in that sense."
Conte has welcomed six new players to his Tottenham side, adding quality in the depth of his squad and the ambition showed this summer, will only be pleasing for Kane too and football.london understands he will be open to discussing a new contract, when Spurs choose to begin talks. Despite the ex-Man United star's ambitious prediction for the England captain, he also made a claim on what he believes Kane still needs to do.
"Harry looked sharp in pre-season and I just feel that he’s got something to prove again this season," the 43-year-old admitted. "Even though he’s been a phenomenal player for so many years, I still think there’s something in him where he’s thinking, ‘I didn’t get to move to Manchester City last year. I’m going to prove to people this season why I didn’t go’."
Ferdinand's comments indicate Kane needs to 'prove himself' more for his own doing, than anyone else's. The fact he remained in the capital last summer, means he now has the chance to show why, which will hopefully come in the form of silverware and league success.
Conte helped his Tottenham side secure a fourth place finish last season and there is hope that the Lilywhites can climb the Premier League table this season. There is also hope that the Italian can be the man to help Spurs end their 14-year trophy drought.
Saturday showed that Tottenham don't have to rely on Kane for goals, however the 29-year-old will want to get back to his best to help his team and maybe 'prove something', if he feels he still needs to.
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