Former Arsenal star and current Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has rubbished claims about Harry Kane being tired being behind his recent struggles in front of goal at Tottenham.
The England hitman, who was the top scorer at this summer’s World Cup in Russia, has started every one of his club’s Premier League games this season and has already netted two strikes, but there have been doubts building after seeing his shot count decrease before playing a reduced role for the Three Lions over the international break.
However, while admitting the 24-year-old has been far from his usual best, Merson has ripped apart the suggestion he is tired, and put it down to the peaks and troughs of form that players suffer from.
He told Sky Sports: “Sometimes it’s just a lack of form and people blame it on tiredness. There isn’t a debate about Hazard being tired is there? He’s been phenomenal for Chelsea.
“Kane is just lacking in a bit of form – if you look at his career then he’s either hot or cold, nothing in between. He could score twice on Saturday, twice in midweek in the Champions League and all this talk of tiredness will be in the past.
“It’s not like he runs around like a Jamie Vardy is it? His shot count has dropped but who says that’s down to tiredness? It’s just a lack of form and confidence. He’s only human.”
Opinion
What is this ‘bad form’ that Merson is going on about? Harry Kane certainly does not have a clue, for he has hardly had a bad run in front of goal since becoming a first team star in north London. Joking aside, the Sky Sports pundit does make a valid point when it comes to tiredness – Eden Hazard did make it to the exact same stage of the World Cup and has been performing out of his skin for Chelsea early this season, so fitness is not really to blame here – at least not because of his exploits over the summer. Truth be told, there really is nothing wrong with Kane’s performances – yes, he might not be making a massive influence up top but that could easily because the opposition are starting to mark him out of the game, giving others, like Lucas Moura, more of a chance to shine. Do not forget Kane still has two goals in four games – that is not a bad record to have – and his impact might not be as obvious any more, but he is still playing a vital role in that Spur squad.