HARRY KANE as good as booked his passage to Europe next year - with England AND Spurs.
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| Harry Kane struck twice as Spurs ran riot over Norwich |
The England trip to France was already a given. But the way he and Spurs stuffed Norwich's Canaries suggests some Champions League trips next season now look a distinct possibility.
Mauricio Pochettino's youngsters served up a festive fare that guaranteed him a merry Christmas - and an even happier New Year if this is anything to go by.
To be fair, Spurs and Norwich didn't exactly look at opposite ends of the table to start with.
In fact, if it hadn't been for the agility of birthday boy Hugo Lloris, Norwich would have been two up in less than 20 minutes.
The French keeper had to go full stretch to keep out efforts from Ofoe and Robbie Brady - and the natives were understandably a little nervous.
But football, as they say, is a funny old game - although there was nothing funny about the way Kane fired Spurs in front on 25 minutes. Not for Norwich at any rate.
The England striker was clean through when Declan Rudd brought him down in the box. No doubting it was a penalty, and no doubt either about the spot kick Kane took himself.
Suddenly dear Delia Smith must have been feeling a bit choked, and it had absolutely nothing to do with her cooking.
Her Canaries were starting to flap a bit and Rudd had to make two super saves, first from Toby Alderweireld and then Dele Alli, to stop revitalised Spurs from stretching their lead.
The reason for the flap was there for all to see four minute before half time when that man Kane got Spurs' second. A true Christmas cracker from a player who is getting closer every day to the sensational form he showed last season.
A swift counter attack involving Eric Lamela and Alli saw the ball laid off to Kane in space. He didn't need to be told twice what to do, and Rudd could do nothing about the rasping drive that flashed past him.
Even then Pochettino was far from happy with the way his side took their feet off the gas for a while after the break. And his angry shouts from the touchline echoed right round White Hart Lane never mind in his players' ears!
Their response was pretty instant, though, and it needed at least three instinctive saves from Rudd to deny Alli and Lamela.
And when young Tom Carroll wrapped it all up with Spurs third just eight minutes after coming on for Christian Eriksen their fans had good reason to celebrate with the "he's one of our own" chorus they usually reserve for Kane.
Lloris 7; Walker 7, Alderweireld 7, Vertonghen 6, Davies 6; Eriksen 7 (Carroll 72), Dier 7, Dembele 6 (Chadli 85), Alli 7 (Son 78); Lamela 7; Kane 8.
Norwich: Rudd 8; Martin 6 , Bennett 6, Bassong 5 Olsson 6; Redmond 6 Mulumbu 5 (Howson 72),Tettey 5, Brady 7 (Mbokani 78); Ofoe 5 (Dorrans 72); Jerome 5.
Star Man: Harry Kane.
Referee: M Jones
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