Tottenham's Harry Kane is the complete striker and has talent to match Zlatan Ibrahimovic, writes Alan Smith

Box-ticker: Smith says Kane has all the attributes of a complete centre forward
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Alan Smith28 February 2017

What goes in to the make-up of a complete centre-forward? Well, for a start, you’ve got to possess the strength and touch to hold the ball up when determined defenders barge into your back. Without that ability, the player concerned becomes a different sort of striker, perhaps more of a poacher who takes little part in the general build-up.

Following on, this perfect photo-fit must show clever movement, the sort that offers a pass and loses his marker. Speed is another pre-requisite. I’m not talking Usain Bolt proportions here but the complete package must show enough pace to put distance between himself and the chasing pack.

Then there is finishing, of course; the currency of goals. Without that precious ability to consistently find the net, all that other stuff counts for absolutely nothing. Is he strong on both sides? Comfortable shooting with his so-called weaker foot? What about anticipation to find half a yard in the box? Finally, can he climb high to head home his fair share? Any respectable centre-forward should succeed on this point.

So, quite a list there. Every box must be ticked to claim the top prize.

And while not many can do it, Harry Kane can. If you go through those attributes one by one, Tottenham’s favourite son comes up trumps every time. This thought passed through my mind, not for the first time, as I sat up on the gantry waiting for the crowd to thin out on Sunday, having just commentated on a cake walk that saw our hero score three against Stoke City.

It had been a masterful performance in the first half especially when, apart from the hat-trick, he also found time to set up Dele Alli by leaving Bruno Martins Indi for dead with an exquisite touch and turn.

If anyone had any doubts, that moment should have dispelled them. Tottenham’s No10 virtually has it all when it comes to fulfilling the requirements of a top centre-forward. His build, his balance, his overall attitude — you would struggle to find anyone better equipped.

Interesting to compare him, then, with his Premier League rivals, those other hotshots vying for this season’s golden boot.

After winning the EFL Cup for Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is rightly being feted for his fantastic output this season. Twenty six goals in all competitions at the age of 35 — quite an achievement for someone who has already won everything at Europe’s top table. The man is a giant, both physically and talent wise, not to mention a personality to match his huge frame. In terms of style, though, he is different to Kane. The Swede has always favoured a more static approach.

Alexis Sanchez certainly hasn’t but the Chilean’s busy movement contrasts sharply with Kane’s more orthodox role. Often quite brilliant, the Arsenal man goes about his work in a much different way, popping up in areas that Kane normally wouldn’t.

Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, on the other hand, is more similar. Not in every sense, though. At 23, he might be the same age as Kane but, for me, doesn’t always appear quite as keen to embrace the ugly parts of the job such as scurrying after the ball. The Belgian’s first touch can also let him down. That said, his scoring record is exceptional in a team that are undoubtedly weaker than Spurs.

Diego Costa, meanwhile, leads the line in a stronger outfit. And of all the aforementioned names, Chelsea’s hit-man resembles Kane the closest in terms of movement and finishing. Both work the pitch beautifully to link the play, both take their chances with a ruthless edge.

The glaring difference, of course, is in character. Costa’s in-your-face manner does seem a world away from Kane’s clean-cut honesty. Mind you, unlike 28-year-old Costa, who has probably reached his peak, the young Englishman’s best days surely lie ahead.

Having filled the same position, I know from experience that, at his age, there is still much to learn about the nuances of the job — how best to stay out of a defender’s eye line, knowing when to move and when to stand still. Encouragingly, Kane is not the type to think he has already arrived. A very diligent sort, he should continue to improve under Mauricio Pochettino. To surpass the 100-goal mark at this stage really takes some doing, even if some of those strikes came lower down the ladder. The challenge now, one not entirely in his hands, is to turn that prolific return into solid silverware.

In Pictures | Tottenham vs Stoke | 26/02/2017

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Can Kane emulate Ibrahimovic by excelling for club and country with a constant stream of goals over the next decade? He definitely has the talent. The task is not beyond him. The complete centre-forward deserves a career to match.

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