Harry Kane faces another test of his true credentials in the coming weeks, with Tottenham Hotspur’s forthcoming run of favourable fixtures set to crank up the pressure on their rising star.

The 21-year-old answered questions as to whether he is the real deal with his brace in the New Year’s Day 5-3 victory over Chelsea, taking his tally to 17 goals in all competitions this season.

However, that performance will count for little if Spurs fail to meet expectations and win their three remaining Barclays Premier League fixtures this month.

They will also be heavy favourites when they meet Sky Bet League 1 outfit Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup semi-finals, after hosting Burnley in their FA Cup third-round replay.

Kane’s importance was emphasised as Spurs failed to produce a single shot on target on Monday night at Turf Moor, as per the BBC’s match report, before he was introduced at half-time, eventually having a hand in their opener before the Clarets salvaged a draw.

Roberto Soldado was handed a chance to impress against the Clarets but “did little to suggest he will ever score again” according to ESPNFC’s John Crace, while Emmanuel Adebayor remains absent from the squad, despite returning to White Hart Lane following personal leave.

A run of Crystal Palace (A), Sunderland (H) and West Brom (A) could well see Mauricio Pochettino’s men perched in the top four heading into February, which begins with the visit of north London rivals Arsenal.

Speculation has already turned to Kane gaining his first full international call-up, with Roy Hodgson doing little to talk down his chances.

Hodgson told SiriusXM FC, as reported by the Guardian:

We have watched [Kane] for a while and I worked with him briefly in the Under-21s when I filled in for one game. Harry has come on in leaps and bounds and I’m not surprised because I know [the former coaches] Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand very well.

They have worked with him at Tottenham and they always believed in him as a goalscorer.

It’s tremendous to see people like him doing so well and quite strange that in the Under-21s a year or two ago we were bemoaning the fact we didn’t think our forwards were up to the level of the midfielders – and yet suddenly Kane, Saido Berahino and Danny Ings are all doing exceptionally well. It will be a headache for Gareth who he picks to play in the summer.

Tottenham fans will be more interested in him playing Champions League football next season, although they will be aware that Kane cannot bring such success alone.

Gareth Bale left Spurs fans with many great moments to cherish, but the club failed to secure top-four finishes in his final two campaigns at the club.

Kane produced one of those memorable performances against the Blues—the sort that make you sit up and reassess your views on a player—akin to Bale’s self-announcing hat-trick against Inter Milan in 2011.

However, unlike that night at the San Siro, Spurs prevailed victorious as Kane’s team-mates stepped up collectively, with Danny Rose, Andros Townsend and Nacer Chadli also finding the net.

The latter has been another revelation this season, scoring nine times, while Christian Eriksen’s seven goals, many of them at crucial times, have also been key.

However, it is the young Englishman who is capturing the headlines, with the BBC’s Stephan Shemilt describing it as “a Harry Kane-inspired Tottenham” that sunk the Blues.

In Kane, Spurs seem to have found a prolific marksman with the ability to dictate results.

However, the former Spurs trainee, who had to prove himself with loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City before getting a chance at White Hart Lane, remains grounded, insisting: “We all enjoyed the win against Chelsea but we won’t get carried away. We’ll keep our feet on the ground,” as per the London Evening Standard.

With the club still competitive in all four competitions, Spurs fans could be forgiven for getting a little carried away, but balancing a congested fixture schedule is sure to prove tough.

Pochettino’s men have already played more games than any other Premier League side this season and are set to continue that trend up until the end of March according to Sky Sports News HQ:

If Tottenham are to continue to progress, they will need their new star to continue to shine and his supporting cast to play their part.

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