Lineker: Kane has what it takes to become one of Europe's top strikers

Tottenham legend Gary Lineker has backed Harry Kane to become of Europe’s top strikers – as long he can cope when the goals dry up.

Ex-England star Lineker netted 80 goals in 138 appearances for Spurs while Kane rattled in 31 in 51 matches for the north Londoners in his first full season.

It was the sort of form that reportedly attracted a £45m bid from Manchester United.

Kane also scored on his England debut and Lineker insists the new idol of White Hart Lane has all the ingredients to become of the best in the business.

He said: “Harry’s got all of the attributes but I don’t think we’ll really know until he goes through a bad spell, which every striker goes through.

“My gut feeling is that he’s got it, because he beats people, he’s strong, he’s good in the air, he can finish, he can take free-kicks.

“There are question marks about his pace, but even that’s more than adequate.

“He’s got everything and mentally he appears to be very strong, but again we won’t really know until he’s really under pressure and how he handles that.”

Lineker scored his final goal for Tottenham in May 1992 at Old Trafford, more than a year before Kane was born.

And the BBC TV pundit is confident the 21-year-old’s first full season success will not be a one-off.

Lineker added: “I suspect he’ll handle it well, because he seems a kid that is full of confidence.

“He wants to take the free-kicks, he wants to take the penalty in an important game.

“But it’s one season. You don’t want to talk about him as the guy who’s going to break all the records because he doesn’t need that kind of pressure at the moment.

“But he seems very down to earth and says all the right things, and does all the right things.

“Football is full of jeopardy and change, but given a fair run, he’s got a real chance. I like him a lot.”

Gary Lineker was taking to www.JOE.co.uk

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