Harry Kane has made a slow start to the 2021/22 Premier League season. The England striker returned to Tottenham’s starting line-up in late August, and he has struggled to reclaim the form that saw him win the 2020/21 Golden Boot with 23 goals.
As a result, UK sports betting odds for another Kane Golden Boot are dropping, and the Spurs talisman has plenty to do to catch up with some of his competitors. Is it too late for Kane to make a late charge for his fourth Premier League Golden Boot?
Slow Start
The slow start for Kane in the 2020/21 season is unusual. In comparison, the striker scored seven goals after ten games last season, and he has notched just one so far in the 2021/22 campaign. Kane also made a bright start when he won his previous Premier League Golden Boot in 2016/17. He also scored seven in his first ten and went on to notch 29 goals during the season.
But the striker may take some hope from his 2015/16 campaign when he scored 25 goals to win his first-ever Golden Boot. Kane only scored one goal in his first nine during that season, and he will be hoping to muster the same form that saw him net 24 goals in his following 29 games to finish as the league’s top-scorer.
Strong International Break
Despite his stuttering start to the 2021/22 campaign, Kane will take confidence from a strong international break with England. During the two games against Albania and San Marino, the England captain notched an impressive seven goals, with hat-tricks coming in both matches.
Kane looked more confident during the two performances, and he was getting into more dangerous attacking positions for the national team. In comparison, for Spurs, Kane has been dropping deeper and trying to link with the midfield more. Evidently, he has returned to his striking instincts with England, which may bode well for his domestic campaign.
The Antonio Conte factor
Kane struggled to adapt under previous Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo. The Portuguese has a reputation for playing more defensive football, intending to soak up pressure and counter-attack quickly.
However, the arrival of Antonio Conte at Spurs before the international break could prove to be a better fit for Kane. The Italian coach has a proven track record of getting the best out of talismanic players at previous clubs. In his managerial spell at Inter Milan last season, Conte utilised Romelu Lukaku to devastating effect, and the Belgian striker scored 24 goals in 36 Serie A appearances.
Comparisons can also be made with Diego Costa at Chelsea. Conte was able to get the best out of the Spanish striker, who top-scored with 20 goals during the Blues’ 2016/17 title-winning campaign.
Conte is likely to use Kane as an out and out striker, getting into the box and pushing higher up the pitch rather than dropping into deeper midfield positions to provide defence cover and counter-attacks.
This setup should suit the England captain, and the change of manager could reignite his potential for another Golden Boot.