LONDON // Harry Kane’s astonishing rise shows no sign of slowing, with Mauricio Pochettino full of praise for the Tottenham striker after his match-winning display at Queens Park Rangers.

The 21-year-old striker was nowhere near the Spurs starting line-up at the start of the season, never mind the national set-up.

Yesterday he netted twice as QPR were seen off 2-1, moving Spurs to within three points of the Champions League places.

England manager Roy Hodgson was at Loftus Road as the striker increased his tally to 26 goals in all competitions, producing a performance that will only improve his chances of a first senior international call-up.

“It was a fantastic performance, he scored two goals,” Spurs manager Pochettino said. “He is young, can improve more and now it is Roy’s decision. I don’t know if [he deserves a call-up]. Roy needs to decide whether this is time to pick him or not.

“I think it was a fantastic performance in a very, very difficult game because QPR are a team who are very brave and the way they play is difficult to stop.

“It was difficult to play our game and that doesn’t help, but I think we showed character and played much better than QPR and fully deserved three points.”

Kane was not the only impressive English performer in west London, where Ryan Mason and QPR striker Charlie Austin also stood out.

But it was Sandro who netted the hosts’ late goal, meaning his former club had to hold tight to get their second win in quick succession – the ideal response to the recent Europa League and League Cup disappointments.

“It is a very, very good response,” Pochettino said. “I am very happy for them, very pleased for them.

“After two defeats in Florence and ... against Chelsea, the performance was fantastic against Swansea and today.”

In some way, QPR counterpart Chris Ramsey played a part in his side’s downfall having helped bring through the likes of Kane and Mason during nine years at Tottenham.

He preferred not to speak about his former charges, instead focusing on his side’s display after their latest defeat.

“I think they did well again and I know you will probably say that I am saying it every week, but I think if you’re a football person you will see the players did apply themselves very well,” Ramsey said.

“I just think that when you are playing top teams or any team in the Premier League, you need that little bit of fortune at times just to go your way.

“When you’re playing teams like the Arsenals and Tottenhams, they do have that little bit of quality that even if they are not playing well, they may pull something out of the bag.”

Ramsey may not have had any complaints about his players’ application, but he echoed those QPR fans frustrated to see several penalty appeals rejected.

“Sometimes there are decisions that are fine lines, but I think when you’re fighting for every point like we are, you have to try to grab on to anything you can,” he said.

“Momentum always changes with goals, you know that, so I am very disappointed that we couldn’t get at least one of those decisions.”