Stuart Pearce has admitted that he has been ‘wrong’ about Harry Kane and the career the Tottenham Hotspur and England striker has had.
The 29-year-old recently became England’s all-time leading scorer when he surpassed Manchester United great Wayne Rooney when he scored from the penalty spot during his side’s 2-1 win over Italy in their Euro 2024 qualifier.
When Harry Kane was coming through as a teenager, he wasn’t exactly highly rated as a Rooney, with Stuart Pearce England’s U21 coach, at the time.
The former left-back shared that he spoke to Kane once about possibly picking him for the younger age groups of England, but told him to ‘keep working hard’ and how he had ‘a long way to go’ in comparison to what else was swimming in the talent pool of England.
Kane would go on numerous loan spells from Leicester City to Norwich City, where he didn’t exactly light up the place.
But, fast forward to the present, and he is one of the best in the world, with Stuart Pearce admitting his guilt at how wrong he was about the player, who is now ‘top-class’, as he told talkSPORT.
“I can’t name another player that suffered as much adversity as him, the loan situation, and has gone on to achieve as much,” said Pearce.
“Look at the other people that have been top scorers for England. Rooney was a child star at 16. Owen was a child star. They have all come up the food chain. No one has had the journey this kid has had. The four loans that have been average.
“I like all the other coaches that have watched the kid at a younger age thought ‘you have a lot to do to be a top-class international’. There’s no doubt about that.
“But ‘wow’. How wrong can you be?! He is a great example for coaches and managers to say ‘don’t ever write anybody off because of what’s between his ears’. He is that intelligent as a footballer. He has worked out what he needs to be good at and he has achieved that.”
KANE THE RECORD BREAKER
A shining example to all, Kane could end his career without a trophy, which would be a crying shame, but the path he has taken should be an example to all coming up.
Not everyone has to be rated like Jude Bellingham or performing like Bukayo Saka at the top of the Premier League table at 21 – Tony Adams recently stated that he is shocked Saka is still at Arsenal.
You can always take your time, and take your hits, before going on to do crazy things. From an individual aspect, Kane has well and truly smashed it. He just needs to leave Spurs to win those team trophies now.
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