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Premier League

Apr 5, 2015 at 1.30pm UK

Burnley
0-0
Spurs Tottenham Hotspur

Player focus: Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane vs. Burnley

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 05 April 2015

Sports Mole takes a closer look at the performance that new England international Harry Kane put in during Tottenham's 0-0 Premier League draw with Burnley.

What a few days it has been in the life of Harry Kane.

Last Friday, the 21-year-old scored on his senior England debut and backed that up by impressing during the 1-1 friendly draw with Italy in Turin.

Returning to Tottenham Hotspur duty this afternoon, in the absence of Hugo Lloris and Younes Kaboul, Kane was surprisingly handed the captain's armband by head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the clash with Burnley.

Here, Sports Mole paid special attention to the player that Spurs supporters refer to as one of their own to see how he fared with the extra responsibility.

Harry Kane of Spurs wears the captain's armband during the Barclays Premier League match between Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on April 5, 2015 © Getty Images

FIRST HALF

Three weeks ago, Kane cut an abandoned figure at Old Trafford as his Spurs teammates struggled to provide him with any real service of note.

However, with 29 goals to his name in all competitions - Burnley have scored 26 as a team in the Premier League- he will have been hoping for more involvement in Lancashire. Yet, that was certainly not the case in the opening 45 minutes.

In the first 10 minutes, the visitors resorted to hoisting high balls up to their leading goalscorer, who was easily thwarted by Burnley's centre-back pairing of Michael Duff and Jason Shackell.

As the half wore on, Spurs started to dictate proceedings, but it did not improve Kane's fortunes any.

In the 25th minute, he laid the ball into the path of Ryan Mason to shoot wide from 25 yards, while Kane soon produced a similar effort from virtually an identical spot. It was a shot that was borne out of frustration.

When the two sides headed in at the break, Kane had touched the ball on just 22 occasions, less than any other Spurs player. Even goalkeeper Michel Vorm had 23.

Harry Kane of Spurs shoots towards goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on April 5, 2015 © Getty Images

SECOND HALF

Soon after the restart, it was apparent very quickly that Spurs had altered little tactically and so Burnley's work rate would once again be the game's dominant feature.

It was particularly evident in the 50th minute when the ball broke kindly for Kane 30 yards from goal, but he wanted too much time and was dispossessed by the tireless David Jones.

A disappointing outing until that point looked to have got even worse for Kane just a few minutes later when he landed awkwardly on his ankle following an aerial challenge with Duff. The grimace on Kane's face suggested that a substitution was in the offing, but he seemed to run off the complaint.

There was yet more frustration in the 70th minute as he wriggled himself enough space inside the area to take aim, only for his shot to be blocked by Ben Mee. Just seconds later, he then got the better of the Burnley left-back on the byline with a swift change of pace - but the cutback that followed was errant.

With just five minutes remaining, Kane showed good battling qualities to hold off a challenge from George Boyd, before launching a counter-attack. Yet, it came to little and proved to be the away side's final bright moment in what was an uninspiring 0-0 draw.

So, from the highs of starring for his country, Kane has now been largely anonymous in two of his last three Premier League outings. It must be said, though, that it has been predominantly down to him being starved of service.