Harry Kane is the best in the world, says Tottenham boss

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has long championed Harry Kane as one of the best players in the world and was delighted to see him break Alan Shearer’s record.

The England international surpassed Alan Shearer’s 22-year-old record with a simple header and tapped in a 38th league goal of 2017 before half-time.

Kane completed his sixth league hat-trick of the year – and second in as many games – with an impudent finish to add to goals from Dele Alli and Son Heung-min.

“I think I’ve said everything (about Kane). The last nine or 10 years it’s been Cristiano Ronaldo (the best in the world) and today it’s Harry Kane. I’m so happy to congratulate him and all of the team, well done.

“It doesn’t surprise us because every day we see how he works, his determination, how professional he is, and that can only be good for him. He’s a very talented player.

“He’s a great professional and a good example for everybody, not just his goals.”

Reflecting on the calendar year, Pochettino added: “We are so ambitious but I am so happy. We have finished this year in a very good way and I hope next year we can win more.”

Kane said it was a “great feeling” to break Shearer’s record for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year in Tottenham’s 5-2 win against Southampton at Wembley.

The striker told BT Sport: “It was hard not to think about it going into the game being level.

“As always I wanted to win the game first and foremost but of course I wanted to score as a striker. To get that goal early on and get that record was a great feeling and I could enjoy the rest of the game.

“This year I would say physically I have improved, recovery from games, getting ready, we have such a busy schedule. Just making sure I’m ready for each game, eating right, recovering right with ice baths. I feel really good. I feel sharp and at my best.

“Just getting more experience should make me a better player anyway.”

On the part played by his Spurs team-mates, Kane added: “When we are in that form and we’ve got everyone running forward and quick passes, one-twos, we are a hard team to stop.

“I said to the lads before the game to try and set me up and they all did that so I’ll have to take them out to dinner or something.”

When asked for his favourite goals of the year, Kane said: “I liked the second one against Huddersfield from outside the box with the left foot, that was nice.

“That third goal today was good, the third goal against Burnley I think summed up how I play with the tackle and then the touch and finish so there’s been some good goals but hopefully some better ones in 2018.”

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino admitted his side were second-best at Wembley, but added: “At least we showed another face in the second half.

“We had another personality, another character. But also we have to congratulate an opponent that was really precise in the chances they had.

“We saw a striker with a lot of quality and we also made mistakes.

“It’s a difficult situation. Sometimes you can realise how people react in difficult moments and we can draw a lot from today.”