Kane's double keeps Spurs' top-four hopes alive
QPR 1
(Sandro 75)
TOTTENHAM 2
(Harry Kane 34, 68)
Some wilt under the spotlight but Harry Kane is one who relishes the attention.
He feeds off the expectations of Tottenham Hotspur fans and the curiosity of the neutrals.
He is single-handedly leading his team's challenge for a Champions League spot.
At Loftus Road this morning (Singapore time), the 21-year-old striker (above right, No. 18) delivered yet again, scoring a brace in the 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers.
His first, a 34th-minute header off a free-kick, demonstrated his confidence.
His second highlighted his impeccable timing, as he beat the offside trap and rounded goalkeeper Robert Green to notch his 16th league goal of the season.
This was a victory as crucial as any other to Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.
It pushes the Lilywhites back to within three points of fourth-placed Manchester United.
But Pochettino isn't the only one manager to leave the ground a happy man.
From the stands, England boss Roy Hodgson must have been impressed by what he witnessed as he pondered over who to include in his squad who play Lithuania and Italy later this month.
Kane, to many, should be an automatic choice by now.
But so is Charlie Austin, less fashionable a choice but no less lethal.
ACUTE AWARENESS
The QPR forward was upstaged by Kane on this occasion, but he has already proven his acute awareness in front of goal over the season.
His tally of 15 league goals, surpassed by Kane this morning, is proof of his quality.
He plays for a side inferior to Kane's. His team's ambition this term is to simply stay up.
As much as Hodgson would be delighted with Kane's form, he would be impressed with Austin's desire as well.
The 25-year-old drew a superb save out of Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, thundered a shot against the crossbar, and cleared a goal-bound shot by Christian Eriksen.
If not for Nabil Bentaleb's hand that blocked his shot late on, he might have gotten himself on the scoresheet, too.
He clearly has potential. In a team of more capable men, he should get even better.
But QPR manager Chris Ramsey can't think that far ahead. Sandro's 75th-minute consolation goal was of no help.
This defeat kept his side in the relegation zone, three points from safety.
He must consistently draw the best out of his star striker as that is QPR's best chance of staying in the Premiership.
Austin carries significant responsibility at the London club.
Similarly, Spurs are counting on Kane to deliver the Champions League dream.
England's two most prolific goal-scorers in the Premiership face very different club realities.
What ties them together is their importance to their respective employers.
Surely, Hodgson won't be complaining.
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