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Antonio Conte says he has three months to convince Harry Kane he can fulfil his ambitions at Tottenham, after the striker set out his aim to break Alan Shearer’s Premier League goalscoring record.
The Spurs star took his tally to 173 with a match-winning brace at Manchester City on Saturday, edging him closer to Newcastle, Blackburn and Southampton legend Shearer’s haul of 260.
‘I think it is there to be done,’ said Kane ahead of Wednesday trip to Burnley. ‘Shearer was an incredible striker so even to be close now is great. It is definitely something I want to achieve.’
Harry Kane took his tally to 173 with a match-winning brace at Manchester City on Saturday
Conte backed Kane’s pursuit but believes, more importantly, they can also win trophies together.
Kane asked to leave the club last summer in the hunt for silverware, with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealing he had four bids turned down.
It has been all change at Spurs since then, with Conte replacing Nuno Espirito Santo as manager. And the Italian hopes the work he does between now and the end of the season, as well as his history of winning, will be enough to prove to Kane that he can achieve everything he wants without moving.
‘Harry is a player with great ambition and it must be this way because we are talking about a world-class striker,’ said Conte. ‘Records are important but, at the same time, it’s also important to lift trophies. Only when you win and lift trophies can you go into the story of the club.
Kane edged closer to Newcastle, Blackburn and Southampton legend Shearer’s haul of 260
‘There is only one way to convince this sort of player. It is to work, to convince them of your football knowledge and to improve them. Only this way do you have the respect of players.
‘We are trying to start to build something important together. It won’t be easy but I think Harry, like the other players, understood the situation.
‘We have to train for three or four months to try to improve and build something important.
‘But I understand then that every player has to make the best decision at the end of the season.’
Head coach Antonio Conte believes he can win trophies with Kane at Tottenham
Kane is fit for Wednesday’s match at Turf Moor, despite hurting his back against City.
‘If he has one leg he has to play!’ joked Conte. ‘Harry knows very well the importance he has on the squad for his personality, for his experience.
‘There is a sporting director in Italy that is my friend, Pantaleo Corvino, and he says “you can make a mistake about your wife but not about the striker”. For me that is the best quote that I understand in football!’
Tottenham face a tough task against a Burnley side who won 3-0 at Brighton at the weekend.
‘Maybe it’s the worst period to play them,’ Conte added. ‘One month ago many people said Burnley were relegated, but I’m sure they can save it.’
