Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has backed Harry Kane to become one of the best strikers in history.
The England captain has reached new heights in the last two years, continuing to be prolific in front of goal while also becoming the team’s best playmaker when dropping into a No 10 role.
He is on the brink of becoming his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, a record he is also close to breaking at Spurs, while he has targeted breaking Alan Shearer’s all-time tally in the Premier League.
Conte already rates him as world class but think he can go on and have a lasting legacy.
“I think he deserves an important position in the world of football,” Conte said ahead of Saturday’s visit to Aston Villa.
“I think Harry also he has the right age to show that he can be one of the best, best in the world but especially in history no?
“He’s already in the history because he scored a lot of goals for the club and scored a lot of goals for the national team. He’s the captain.
“He has the right age to consolidate and be one of the best in the world. His role, he’s a No 9 but at the same time he can be a No 10 because of his quality.
“He’s very good to make assists and to put the ball where he wants. We try also to exploit this aspect and give the ball to him.
“About our team, I’m trying to improve not his quality but to be more effective, to be in the box and a striker.
Tottenham 5 Newcastle 1: player ratings
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TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris – 6 The Frenchman looked shaky when tested and should have done better when Schar’s free-kick squeezed through his wall and into the bottom corner. EPA -
Cristian Romero – 7 The Atalanta loanee proved exactly why he continues a run in the team, denying a storming run from Saint-Maximin before sliding in last-minute to block Willock in front of goal. Action Images -
Eric Dier – 7 The 28-year-old was unable to find the target as his shot curled wide of the post in the opening stages of the game. It was the defender’s determination to win the ball, which sent Spurs forward for their fifth goal. PA -
Ben Davies – 7 In a moment of end-to-end action, the Welshman provided the response to going behind when he connected with Son’s cross to score his first Premier League goal since March 2017. EPA -
Emerson Royal – 7 The Brazilian was the only change for Antonio Conte’s side, replacing the injured Sergio Reguilon. Despite looking promising on the attack, he had Romero to thank defensively having been bypassed by Saint-Maximin in the first half. Action Images -
Rodrigo Bentancur – 7 The former Juventus man saw his early effort deflected out for a corner as Spurs put pressure on their opponents. He was forced to intervene in the second half to stop Targett’s cross into the box. Booked. Getty -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7 The Denmark international was unable to convert when Kulusevski sent in an appealing ball, heading the chance over. Reuters -
Matt Doherty – 8 In his sixth successive start, Doherty proved to be in the right place at the right time when Kane’s cross fell for the Irishman to head home. He then brushed off Murphy to get a cross into Emerson for Spurs’ fourth. EPA -
Dejan Kulusevski – 8 The Swede sent in a delightful ball from the right to the back post, with Hojbjerg heading just over. Another terrific long helped to launch Kane on a run down the wing to cross to Son for Spurs’ third. Reuters -
Heung-min Son – 8 The Korean sent in a brilliant cross for Davies to head home, before netting his 14th league goal, thanks to hard work down the wing by Kane. He could have had another 10 minutes later. Getty -
Harry Kane – 9 The Englishman brushed off Newcastle’s defence to send in an excellent cross for Doherty to nod home, before moments later chasing Kulusevski’s long ball to cross for Son. Nearly created a fifth for Spurs and caused plenty of trouble. Booked. Action Images -
SUBS: Lucas Moura (Kulusevski 76’) – N/R An instant impact as he nudged the ball for Bergwijn to run on to and slot home. Getty Images -
Harry Winks (Bentacur 76’) – N/R In an attempt to join in the fun, Winks was happy to unleash an effort from outside the box which narrowly missed the top corner. Getty -
Steven Bergwijn (Emerson 81’) – N/R Dutch forward likely felt hard-done by to be benched and made his point when Moura squeezed the ball through for him to slot home. Nearly volleyed a second. EPA -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka – 4 Was unable to keep out Davies’ point-blank header and stood little chance with what was to come. AFP -
Javier Manquillo – 4 Sprinting from the half-way line, Manquillo did well to track back to deny Son in the aftermath of Schar’s opener. Reuters -
Fabian Schar – 5 The Swiss broke the deadlock when his low free-kick found space in the wall to squeeze past Lloris in the only positive of the afternoon. AFP -
Dan Burn – 4 Booked for a sliding tackle on Kane, much to the centre-back’s dismay. The boyhood Newcastle fan was left in disarray trying to keep Kane at bay as he dominated play in the second half. EPA -
Matt Targett – 4 Despite being attached to Emerson’s hip, the former Aston Villa left back was unable to get ahead of his counterpart to stop him poking home Doherty’s cross. Reuters -
Joelinton – 4 Booked in a coming together before half-time, it was the Brazilian to be sacrificed as Spurs scored their third of the game. Action Images -
Jonjo Shelvey – 4 Handed the captain’s armband, Shelvey was unable to make an impact to inspire his team despite providing the most passes of his teammates. PA -
Joe Willock – 6 Providing one of Newcastle’s most promising chances, the former Arsenal youngster weaved through several white shirts before Romero was forced to intervene before he could pull the trigger. PA -
Ryan Fraser – 4 Continuing to be a regular under his former Bournemouth boss, but it was a disappointing display. EPA -
Chris Wood – 4 In an effort to put his side on level terms just after the break, the New Zealand forward shot just wide of Lloris’ post. Action Images -
Allan Saint-Maximin – 6 Making his first start since February, the Frenchman looked to use his pace in rare moments of possession for his side. Booked. Action Images -
SUBS: Jacob Murphy (Joelinton 59’) – 5 Part of a double change, Murphy was unable to stop Doherty cutting back to send in the ball for Emerson’s goal. AFP -
Bruno Guimaraes (Manquillo 59’) – 5 Having returned from international duty with Brazil, Bruno was benched and was kept busy trying to make an impact to limit Spurs. Action Images -
Jamaal Lascelles (Wood 70’) – N/R A defensive change but it was of little impact to the game. Action Images
“I repeat we’re talking about a fantastic player, so it’s very difficult to improve him but we’re trying to work, to push him to have the top ambition to become the best striker.”
One player who is performing better away from Spurs is Giovani Lo Celso, who has impressed since joining Villarreal on loan in January.
The Argentina international was named man of the match as the Spanish side beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Conte has been impressed by Lo Celso’s form, but still has reservations about his suitability for the Premier League.
“First of all I’m really happy for his great performance,” Conte said. “He needed to play with regularity, with the continuity. For this reason he went to Spain in a league he knows very well because he played very well and Tottenham bought him when he played in that league.
“To go back there and show he’s in good form is good for everybody, especially because Tottenham paid a lot of money for him.
“I am very happy because he is playing every game, he’s showing he’s a good player but I never said he’s not a good player.
“I said this league is a very difficult league because it is not enough to have great quality and it’s important to play with great intensity and strength.
“But now he is playing with regularity and I am very happy for him.”
