Chelsea manager Frank Lampard hailed Harry Kane as one of the world's best strikers and called any questioning of his quality as "nonsense".
Ahead of taking on the England captain's Tottenham Hotspur side at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Lampard remains stunned that anyone can doubt Kane's ability.
Kane has already fired 13 goals in all competitions for Tottenham this term, and has added an extra creative dimension to his play.
"Firstly the queries of Harry Kane are incredible and a nonsense," said Lampard. "Harry Kane is one of the best players in world football and has always had the talents to play as an out-and-out nine or as someone who can drop off.
"Now he's developing in his own way as he matures as a player. And he's a really impressive player, there's no doubt about that.
"I've got a huge amount of respect for Harry Kane, and around him now he's got a very solid team, squad, good players around him, players that want to run behind him if he does want to come short.
"So I think he's a very good and a very intelligent player, it's as simple as that.
"He's got a very good coach. And that's why they're in a strong position. As a coach we do rely on our top players to perform.
"And at the minute Harry Kane is an example of a player really in a sweet spot and playing some top football."
Lampard and Didier Drogba boast the record of 36 Premier League goals scored in partnership. But the Chelsea manager admitted Kane and his Spurs team-mate Son Heung-min could easily surpass that league-high tally.
"They are certainly a threat to the record, they are going to beat that comfortably the way they are going, and fair play," said Lampard.
"I've got no qualms about that record, something Didier and I would be proud of to a degree, but this is football and it moves on and players of their level will always test that.
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Gallery: Rennes 1 Chelsea 2
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"I'm aware of their threats, you look at the numbers they are producing, both of them, the link-up play, that understanding is clear.
"And fair play to them, and again, the coach the way they work as a team. So it's something we have to be aware of.
"We can't look beyond that. It's a strength of theirs. It's not their only strength, they are strong around that in lots of different areas.
"But we also have to nullify those threats and make the most of our positives in our squad. And yeah I do want relationships, players getting relationships.
"With players like Son and Kane they have worked on that for a good few years now.
"And I suppose we're in the early stages of that, and yeah I would love our players to get in those kinds of relationships so they know what each other are doing and have that level of talent."
