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Football: Kane ends goal drought as Spurs beat Newcastle

NEWCASTLE (REUTERS) - Harry Kane scored his first Premier League goal of the season as Tottenham Hotspur overcame Newcastle United 3-2 at St James' Park on Sunday (Oct 17) to prolong the hosts' winless run in a match that was briefly halted after a fan collapsed in the crowd. Newcastle, spurred on by a buoyant atmosphere in their first game since being taken over by a Saudi Arabia-led consortium, flew out of the traps and went ahead after just 108 seconds when Callum Wilson headed in from a Javi Manquillo cross. But the bright start soon fizzled out as Spurs hit back in the 17th minute through Tanguy Ndombele, who lashed home from the edge of the box after being played in by Sergio Reguilon. Kane gave Spurs the lead five minutes later, scoring with a smart dink following an excellent ball from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Play was suspended for nearly 25 minutes just before halftime after a fan collapsed in the East Stand of the ground. Newcastle said that the supporter's condition had been stabilised and they were on their way to hospital. Son Heung-min added a third from close range in first-half stoppage time before Newcastle were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute when Jonjo Shelvey saw red for a second booking. An own-goal from Eric Dier set up a tense finish but Spurs held on. Spurs moved up to fifth in the standings with 15 points from eight games. Newcastle are second from bottom with three points. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Kane scores twice on first start of season for Tottenham   Related Story Football: Harry Kane confirms he will stay at Spurs, quelling talk over Man City move

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Football: Kane to miss Tottenham’s Europa Conference League match amid transfer talk

LONDON (REUTERS) - Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has not travelled with the team for Thursday's Europa Conference League playoff first leg against Pacos de Ferreira, British media reported on Wednesday (Aug 18). Kane had been originally named in the 25-man squad for the trip to Portugal by manager Nuno Espirito Santo but is now expected to stay back in London to work on his fitness. The England captain also missed Tottenham's win against Manchester City in their Premier League opener over the weekend after being unable to train due to self-isolation requirements. The 28-year-old has been a transfer target for Manchester City, with City boss Pep Guardiola saying that it was up to Tottenham to make the move happen. Kane told Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy at the end of last season that he wanted to leave the club in order to challenge for major trophies, according to media reports. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Not going to talk about Kane, says Man City manager Guardiola   Related Story On The Ball: Harry Kane looms large over City game as Spurs chief plays hardball

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Football: Covid-19 rules behind Kane’s absence from Spurs training, reports say, amid Man City transfer talk

LONDON (AFP) - Coronavirus regulations may explain why Harry Kane has failed to attend training with Tottenham Hotspur two days running amid speculation the England captain is trying to force a big-money move to Premier League champions Manchester City. Kane was due back at Tottenham's training headquarters on Monday for a coronavirus test and a fitness assessment following his three-week holiday after Euro 2020 but did not show up and he was not there on Tuesday (Aug 3) either. The 28-year-old forward, however, has been on a family holiday in the Caribbean, with the Daily Mail reporting on Tuesday he faces a mandatory self-isolation period of up to 10 days as the Bahamas are on the British government's "amber list". It is not yet certain if Kane has landed back in England but, in any event, he can take a "test to release" procedure on day five of his return home, which could see him back training with Spurs by next week at the earliest. Tottenham, who ironically face Pep Guardiola's team on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, have declined to comment about Kane's absence. Kane went public with his desire to leave Tottenham at the end of last season but has also remained silent this week. He has grown frustrated at the club's failure to win a major trophy since 2008, with their latest letdown coming in last season's League Cup final defeat against Manchester City. Kane believes he has a "gentleman's agreement" with Tottenham which allows him to move this year. But with three years left on his contract, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has no intention of selling his club's prized asset, who is valued at around £150 million (S$280 million). More on this topic   Related Story Football: Man City make £100m move for Kane, report British media   Related Story Football: Harry Kane wants to leave Spurs, say reports Kane has been in the Bahamas following England's Euro 2020 final loss to Italy. With the top-flight season due to start on Aug 13, Kane appears to intend to push for a move. It could be a rocky road for Kane if he steps up his demand to leave, with some Tottenham fans expressing their anger at his training ground snub on social media. New Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo was reportedly assured Kane would not be sold during discussions before he took charge. Nuno said last month Kane could be "counted on" next season.

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Football: Experience paying off for England after ‘perfect’ performance, says Kane

ROME (AFP) - Harry Kane believes England's greater experience at major tournaments is paying off after scoring twice in a 4-0 thrashing of Ukraine to reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals on Saturday (July 3). Gareth Southgate's side also reached the last four of the World Cup in 2018, where they lost 2-1 to Croatia. However, Kane pointed to the success of English sides in top-level European club competition in the past three years as a reason they can end a 55-year wait to win a major tournament ahead of a last-four clash with Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday. "We've been playing for our clubs in the biggest of games. Champions League finals, Premier League title races. The job isn't done yet but we're on the right track," said Kane. "We set out with a vision before the World Cup of where we want to be as a team. "The World Cup was great but we fell short, we had another semi-final in the Nations League, and now it's about getting over the line and that's what we've got to do on Wednesday." Kane was fiercely criticised for his sluggish performances in the group stage as he managed just one shot on target. However, the Tottenham Hotspur striker now has three goals in his last two games after his double in Rome. "There was a lot of talk about me and my performances but my focus is always the next game, to help lead this team hopefully to a European final," added the England captain. "There was lots of pressure on us. Of course we were favourites to win this game, but there is a lot of pressure, expectation. "To perform like we did was top drawer: four goals, another clean sheet, it's a perfect night for us." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Kane leads England past Ukraine and into Euro 2020 semi-finals   Related Story Football: Denmark hold off Czech rally to keep Euro 2020 dream alive

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Football: Man City make £100m move for Kane: Reports

LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City have made a bid of 100 million pounds (S$187.08 million) to Tottenham for England captain Harry Kane, according to reports on Monday (June 21). Kane, 27, has publicly expressed his desire to add trophies to his excellent goalscoring record and is believed to be keen on a move away from his boyhood club this summer. Sky Sports reported that Spurs are expected to reject the bid with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy holding out for at least 120 million pounds for his prized asset. Despite Kane winning the Golden Boot for top goalscorer and top assist provider last season, Spurs finished seventh in the Premier League and missed the Champions League for the second consecutive season. By contrast, City claimed a third Premier League title in four seasons, but missed out on the club's first ever Champions League by losing 1-0 in the final to Chelsea. The English champions are looking for a replacement for all-time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero, who has left City after 10 years to join Barcelona. Kane is yet to win any major trophy for club or country. He is hoping to change that next month at Euro 2020, but his tournament has got off to a slow start. Gareth Southgate has substituted his skipper in both matches, against Croatia and Scotland, and Kane has failed to score. More on this topic   Related Story Football: Harry Kane wants to leave Spurs, say reports   Related Story On The Ball: Southgate facing his toughest call - will he drop Harry Kane? However, Southgate has already confirmed Kane will start Tuesday's final Group D match against the Czech Republic. "I know there will be a lot of questions being asked about him at the moment but he has been through that 100 times before," Southgate said on Sunday. "I have answered that several times in the past and he has come up with the goals that have won us the next games and I expect that to be the same moving forward."

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