Tottenham: Harry Kane says 'hard work, patience and belief' have been key to his meteoric rise

Tottenham star Harry Kane says working hard, being patient and taking the opportunities given to him by manager Mauricio Pochettino have been the keys behind his sensational season.

The 21-year-old striker started the current campaign as the third striker behind Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado, playing only during the Europa League games with the fringe players, while he did not start a Premier League game until the 11<sup>th game of the season against Stoke City.

But the youngster took his opportunities to prove to Pochettino that he deserved a regular starting place in his line-up, which has arguably led to him becoming the best Spurs player of the campaign, having scored 30 goals in all competitions, including 20 in the Premier League.

England manager Roy Hodgson recently rewarded the Spurs star with his first call-up for the national team, where he scored his first goal within a matter of seconds of being on the pitch during his debut, while on 26 April he landed the PFA young player of the year award, while being also named in the Professional Footballers' Association's Premier League team of the year.

Asked during an interview with Tottenham's official website about the key of such a meteoric season, he said: "Hard work, patience, belief and when the chance came, making sure I took it. I was given the opportunity and I have really enjoyed my season so far. I took my chance and that's why we're here."

"Yes, it has been crazy, but that's part of it and when you are a footballer, you have to deal with things off the pitch as well. You get a lot more attention, more people coming up to you and it's how you deal with it that defines you as a person. Things have changed dramatically for me since the start of the season but in the right way and for the right reasons."

The striker admitted he could not even dream of scoring 30 goals for Tottenham in his first full campaign in the Premier League.

He said: "I always believed that if I got the chance, I'd be able to make an impact and do well but I managed to get on a good goalscoring run and I just rode that wave. I've grown in confidence, my game has got better and better and everything has come together, work I've been doing in the gym, work on the training pitch with the gaffer and the other players, it all seems to have worked this season.

"Again, though, it's all about how you maintain it if you can do again in the seasons ahead and that's what I'll be looking to do, to continue improving."