Sometimes a footballer reaches a stage in his career where every game feels a milestone. For Harry Kane, two came in four days.
His 200th Tottenham goal, making him only the third man to register a double century for Spurs, came against Ludogorets last Thursday. His 150th Premier League strike followed at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
He was only to 10th man to get there and the first born after the division’s inception. Kane is indeed a product of the Premier League era, the only one of those prolific marksmen to enter the world at a point when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were champions.
It only took him 218 games to reach 150, putting him fractionally behind Alan Shearer (212) and Sergio Aguero (217), though the Argentinian has the best goals-per-minute ratio of any. But it is notable how much faster Kane proved than feared goalscorers: Michael Owen (323), Wayne Rooney (330) and Robbie Fowler (333) each took more than 100 games more.
In one respect, Kane has the most in common with the man who, understandably, was the slowest to 150. Frank Lampard is the lone midfielder in the company of strikers. He is also, like Kane, a self-made player who used footballing intelligence and relentless drive to transform himself into a phenomenon. Few tipped either for greatness at a young age; it was attained by a capacity to improve themselves.
Examine Kane’s record and it is notable that he took eight years, two months and 14 days from making his Premier League debut to reach 150.
Except that, while his bow came in August 2012, his first goal arrived in April 2014, after an unsuccessful loan spell at Norwich. It reframes his feat: in under six-and-a-half campaigns, he has averaged over 20 goals a season.
Carry on at his current rate of progress and it suggests that he could overhaul Shearer’s record of 260 towards the end of 2025, when he will be 32.
Shearer has often said he believes Kane could supplant him and, with Aguero possibly leaving Manchester City at the end of the season, there is no other threat to his status in the next few years.
A secret of Kane’s success is actually incredibly obvious. He plays the percentages. He has had the most shots in the division this season, just as he did in both 2015-16 and 2017-18.
He has racked up 817 efforts in a relatively brief Premier League career and, while such statistics were not compiled in Shearer’s prime, he seems likely to displace Rooney and end up top of that particular chart.
It can feel a surprise that Kane has had so many attempts this season; the image of him is dropping deeper to release Heung-Min Son with a defence-splitting pass, acting as the playmaker.
He could yet record a double that eluded even Thierry Henry by recording the most Premier League goals and assists in the same season.
It is part of the evolution of Kane. "Since Jose [Mourinho] has come in, he's made it clear that if I do drop deep the wingers are running in behind," he told The Sunday Times. Certainly Kane's ratio of top-flight goals to assists – currently 5.35:1 – will come down as he serves as the creator more.
“This guy does much more than scoring goals,” Mourinho marvelled on Sunday. “The last five minutes, he was playing as a No 6 and winning balls in front of our defensive line. He is special.”
It is the sort of selflessness Mourinho loves, but a manager who prizes efficiency recognises the merit of finishers, and Kane could finish up as statistically the Premier League’s greatest ever.
