Remarkably, there were some who were sceptical about Harry Kane performing for England at the World Cup.
This is despite having scored 20+ goals a season for the last four years for the Lilywhites but boy oh boy how the critics have been silenced as England cruised into the last sixteen with a game to spare thanks to a Kane hat-trick was the main contribution in a 6-1 hammering of Panama.
Admittedly, Panama are hardly Brazil, but let us not forget they still qualified for Russia 2018 by beating Costa Rica, drawing with the USA whilst beating Costa Rica again in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
World class opponents they may not be, but fools they are not either.
However, it was not just against Panama that Kane has delivered for the Three Lions.
An injury-time winner against Tunisia coupled with his opener against the Africans means Harry Kane now has five at this year’s World Cup and at the time of writing leads the way by one from Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo for the coveted golden boot.
Whatever happens, England are guaranteed to play at least two more games at the World Cup and Kane has not just been on form, but rather the Spurs man has been on fire.
There is now real belief that with Kane in the line-up, England finally has the consistent firepower up top to exceed expectation and dare we say win it?
Of course, Kane’s international success is good for all but the main beneficiaries of his performances for England are the club who pay his wages, Tottenham.
Kane’s stock continues to rise and at 24 years of age, a price tag so large that no one can afford it is also justifiable.
This makes the former Millwall loanee almost untouchable and destined to stay in North London (even if he can demand astronomical wages).
Kane is putting Spurs on the map like never before and if his goalscoring exploits continue, we could have a World Cup winning striker in our ranks as we move into the new White Hart Lane.