Tuesday 3 November 2015 11:23, UK
Jamie Carragher believes Harry Kane's impressive all-round game is crucial to Tottenham - even when the striker is not scoring goals.
The England international had a quiet evening against Aston Villa on Monday Night Football until he scored Tottenham's third goal in the 93rd minute to seal a 3-1 win, but Carragher was impressed with Kane's hold-up play and contribution before his late strike.
"There was a lot of talk about Kane possibly being a one-season wonder, but there's so much more to his game than goals," Carragher said.
"Even when he's going through a barren spell, he's the type of striker that brings more. His hold-up play was fantastic, and his awareness is great. People have spoken about a similarity with Teddy Sheringham.
"When he is scoring goals combined with his all-round play, he is the perfect package. That's why the manager never thought about leaving him out, even when he wasn't scoring at the start of the season."
Spurs midfielder Dele Alli scored Tottenham's second, his first league goal for the club since his strike against Leicester City in August, and the former MK Dons star caught Carragher's eye in a man-of-the-match performance against the Villans.
"He's getting goals. Last season, he had 16 for MK Dons," Carragher continued. "It's the fact that he's always on the move, and his composure as well.
"He doesn't panic [for the goal], and he's got to be under consideration for England because he's playing for a top team in and around the Champions League. He has demonstrated his ability as well and there's not many English players playing at that level. He's going to be playing in big games, against top opposition.
There is a feeling that some get too carried away after a few games in the team, but he (Alli) seems like a level-headed young lad.
"He's very humble and he came across great [in the post-match interview], and that is a big part for young players now. There is a feeling that some get too carried away after a few games in the team, but he seems like a level-headed young lad."
Villa, who appointed former Lyon boss Remi Garde earlier on Monday, have now lost seven Premier League games in a row following defeat at White Hart Lane, and face a match against Manchester City at Villa Park next Sunday.
They caused Tottenham problems after Jordan Ayew's 79th-minute strike made it 2-1, and Carragher felt that the league's bottom club could have claimed a point on another day.
"I saw the ability of [Rudy] Gestede a few weeks ago at Anfield, and I was surprised he didn't start actually as he has done OK for them," Carragher continued. "We spoke about Gabriel Agbonlahor's lack of involvement and he [Gestede] was certainly more involved in this second half.
"Tottenham had them at arms' length and it was just a bit of a panic for 10 or 15 minutes for Spurs [after the goal]. They deservedly got the third and the game reflected that scoreline. But that's the nature of the Premier League, Villa could have nicked something."
