Spurs' Harry Kane sends message to Roy Hodgson with hat-trick ahead of Euro qualifier

HOW much longer can Harry Kane keep doing it on his own this season and where would Spurs be without him?

Pochettino hails game as advert for Premier League [AMBIENT]

The striker has now scored 29 goals and, on the back of that haul, will play England against Lithuania in the European Championship qualifier at Wembley on Friday.

Kane’s scoring exploits have helped Spurs remain in the chase for European football and at the same time taken the pressure off a defence that badly needs reinforcing.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that discussions will take place after the international break about how much money is available to strengthen.

Another striker is a priority along with one more central defender.  After Kane, Spurs next highest scorer is Christian Eriken with eleven goals, while the goals against column reads a worrying 45 more than any other team in the Premier League top 10.

But for Kane, Spurs would have been shown up for what they still are, a side attempting to live on past glories.

Pochettino said: “We need to provide exciting football, it is something that is in our mentality. But we must get the right balance. We definitely need to improve at the back.”

Kane’s hat-trick and an own goal by Jeff Schlupp tried the patience of Fox’s manager Nigel Pearson.

Pearson raged at referee Mike Dean after seeing his side concede four poor goals, the first two from their former striker Kane, who was on loan at Leicester two years ago, a third from a contentious penalty scored by Kane and the clincher put in by  his own defender.

Hence his attack on Dean on Saturday, who awarded a spot kick after David Nugent and Danny Rose had collided in a tussle for the ball.

Harry KaneGETTY

Harry Kane scores Spurs' winning goal

Pearson said: “He is one of the most arrogant men I have ever met. His arrogance is frightening. I find it difficult to accept we have to deal with yet another contentious decision that has not gone our way. Will I speak to the referee? What is the point, what is the point of talking to him. My players deserve more respect.”

Now after already being in trouble with the FA this season for remarks made, he will be expecting further action for bringing the game into disrepute. 

Pochettino, meanwhile, was enraged at Tottenham’s defending.

Stamping and storming on the touchline and kicking out at drink bottles he later added: People expect a lot from this team – and I was very angry with what was going on.”

If Spurs are not to become the show pony’s of the Premier League they have to help out Kane – and bring in back four men who can defend.

SPURS (4-4-2): Lloris (Vorm 1, 5). Walker 6, Vertonghen 5, Dier 5, Rose 6, Bentaleb 5, Mason 5, (Dembele 87), Eriksen 6, Kane 8, Chadli (6), Townsend 5 (Paulinho 57). Booked: Chadli. Goals: Kane 5, 12 and 63. Schlupp 84og.

LEICESTER (3-4-3): Schmeichel 5, Morgan 5, Upson 5, (Wasilewski, 45), Huth 5 (Mahrez 75), De Laet 6, James 6, Schlupp 6, Cambiasso 6, (King 85) Vardy 8, Ulloa 5, Nugent 6. Booked: James, Ulloa. Goals: Vardy 37, Morgan 49, Nugent 89.

REFEREE M Dean (Wirral).

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