Tottenham interim boss Ryan Mason believes there are still elements of Harry Kane’s contribution to the team that go underappreciated.
The stadium announcer was still in the midst of declaring one minute of first-half added time when Kane connected with Pedro Porro’s whipped cross and nodded in the eventual winner as Tottenham beat Crystal Palace 1-0.
Kane’s strike, his 209th in the Premier League, also moved him ahead of Wayne Rooney and into outright second on the all-time top scorer list.
“But also that elite mindset, that example that he sets every day in and around the place, it’s great to be around. Because when you have people like that they inspire you to be better and we appreciate Harry, we value him so much at this football club.”
The England captain’s 28th goal in all competitions this season leaves him 51 behind all-time Premier League leader Alan Shearer, who netted 260 in the top flight.
Saturday’s victory was a subdued affair but enough to secure Mason a first victory in his second spell in charge of Spurs.
The former England manager was more forthcoming about 29-year-old Kane’s chances at surpassing Shearer, saying: “I would expect it, you know his age, he’s got several good years ahead of him and he doesn’t get injured very often, touch wood.
“I think the only thing that stands between him and the record will be is he going to avoid serious injury? Is he going to be able to get 20, 30 matches a year behind him? Is he going to get help from his team-mates and play in a good team which is what he has been playing in?
Hodgson departed from Mason when asked if Kane was to some degree still viewed as an underrated talent.
He added: “You’re talking maybe for a body of football fans and football people that I don’t know. I don’t know who they are, I don’t know what they’re saying, but I can guarantee that none of us that work in football on a serious basis in what I call the football village, there’s none of us that have that opinion.”
