MILLWALL boss Neil Harris is an admirer of Harry Kane – but is confident the Lions have the defensive resilience to stop him.
Kane has scored 15 goals in his last 13 games – including three hat-tricks already this year – and was named February’s Premier League player of the month.
Kane played 27 times and scored nine goals on loan at Millwall in 2012, a year before Harris returned to the club as U21 manager.
Twenty-three-year-old Kane gave early evidence of his ability to score at important times of the season: Seven of those nine goals came in the last 14 games as the club beat the drop to the third tier before Kane was named Millwall’s young player of the season.
Millwall have conceded just two goals in their last 13 games, including keeping nine successive clean sheets, their best run since 1925-26.
Harris is a fan of Kane and said Millwall are prepared to have their “backs to the wall” against their Premier League opponents.
“He’s a talented individual,” Harris said. “I can speak completely honestly as a proud Englishman following the national team. It’s great that we have a world-class number nine. His awareness, his movement, his finishing is top, top drawer. I really enjoy watching him play.
“He’s one of a talented bunch of players Spurs have got, especially young players coming through. We’ve not had a shabby defensive record ourselves recently, so we have to rely on individuals and a team ethos to try to stand strong.
“There are going to be difficult moments during the game, without a shadow of a doubt, there will be moments when they dominate possession and it’ll be backs to the wall. That’s because that’s the way we play generally and because of the opposition.”
Asked what makes Kane so dangerous, Harris said: “Confidence. It’s really key for any striker.”
He added: “He’s got a support network around him on the pitch which is first class, with the opportunities he is given.
“He scores all types of goals. He’ll score a tap-in, a penalty, a free-kick, he’ll score from 30 yards, a header. Add that to an all-round ability, to be able to flick balls on at goal-kicks, to be able to link the play and play in various different positions. He can play in the front four positions, for me, no problem. That’s what stands him out from the rest.”
Millwall have already knocked three Premier League teams out of the FA Cup this season and are one of two clubs outside the top flight in the last eight. Another, Lincoln City, have defeated one League One side, two Championship clubs and Premier League Burnley on their way to becoming the first non-league team to reach the quarter-finals in 103 years.
“During the four ties there is going to be a moment or moments or a team over the 90 minutes that affects the competition in a different way,” Harris said. “We’ve done it in three previous rounds, Sutton did it and Lincoln are still doing it.
“We’ve got to take inspiration from what’s gone before in this competition this year and make sure it’s us that causes an upset or has the moments during the game that can, maybe, lead us to victory.”
Image: Millwall FC