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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Sports Staff

Harry Kane’s goalscoring under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham has proved me wrong, admits Paul Merson

Photograph: POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Paul Merson has admitted he was wrong to doubt Harry Kane.

In June, following Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United, the Sky Sports pundit said he thought Jose Mourinho’s management could stifle Kane’s attacking output.

"When Jose took the job I worried for Harry Kane,” Merson said at the time. "He played under Pochettino and Tottenham had a go wherever they went. There were goals, there were crosses, there were shots.

"He’s going to be playing up front on his own and it is going to be hard work. In the end he is trying to hit 60-yard passes just to get involved in the game and that’s not Harry Kane.

"I don’t see him getting 25-30 goals a season the way Jose will want to play, and he [Mourinho] won’t want to play like it was when he first got in there, 4-2s and 5-3s, no way."

However that prediction has proved wide of the mark in the early part of this season as Kane and fellow forward Son Heung-min have racked up goals in Spurs colours under Mourinho’s coaching.

Kane has been particularly effective with seven goals and eight assists in his first eight Premier League games. 

"You're right, I am wrong there mate,” Merson said in a video to a fan who pointed out his mistake. "Harry Kane will score goals wherever he goes, he's a top centre-forward and I have to admit I got that one horribly wrong."

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