Mauricio Pochettino backs Tottenham striker Harry Kane for Player of the Year award

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has backed Harry Kane to succeed former Liverpool hero Luis Suarez as the Premier League Player of the Year.

The current Barcelona striker won the award last season ahead of Chelsea star Eden Hazard and Manchester City's Yaya Toure after being the joint-top goalscorer in the European leagues last season, alongside Ballon D'or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, netting 31 goals in 33 Premier League appearances.

And the Tottenham starlet has emerged as a surprising candidate to pick the award this season - alongside Hazard himself, Manchester United's David De Gea, Diego Costa or Alexis Sanchez - after scoring 19 Premier League goals in 26 appearances.

His manager has claimed that the 21-year-old star really deserves the price.

Asked about the possibility of Kane being named Player of the Year, Pochettino said: "It's real. I think it's a very good thing for him. It has happened very quickly and in football it happens quickly - the good and bad things. He deserves it.

"I don't know. We need to wait to the vote and wait and see after but yes, why not?"

Meanwhile, the manager has delayed the club's decision on whether the striker will take part in the club's post-season tour to Malaysia and Sydney after Roy Hodgson revealed he is likely to play the European Under-21 Championship this summer.

"I think we have eight games and Mauricio Pochettino plans to talk with England U21s manager, Gareth Southgate about whether Harry Kane will be released to play in this summer's European Championships. We have time to speak about a lot of things but why wouldn't he play? If I decide he's in the squad to travel to Sydney, it's our decision.

"I think we have time to speak on the future about Sydney and about the European competition. I told you in the past in a different press conference that we want to help the national team.

"We have a very good relationship and we are going to share the decision between the player, the FA and us.

"There are a lot of things to discuss with the FA, [England U21 manager] Gareth Southgate and with us but we always try to find the best for the player, the national team and for Tottenham."