Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane scored a hattrick against Southampton, his second in two games, yesterday to finish as the leading scorer in Europe's top five leagues for the year. He also broke Alan Shearer's single-year scoring record in England's Premier League. PHOTO: REUTERS
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane said beating Alan Shearer's Premier League record for goals in a calendar year was a "great feeling" after he netted a hattrick on Tuesday.
Kane's three goals in a 5-2 rout of Southampton also guaranteed he would finish as Europe's leading scorer for 2017.
"It was hard not to think about it, being level going into the game," said Kane. "I wanted to win the game but of course I wanted to score as a striker. Getting that record was a great feeling."
Kane has 39 Premier League goals in 2017, three more than Shearer's previous Premier League record of 36, set in 1995.
"I've improved physically -- recovery for games, getting ready for each game, eating right and ice baths," added Kane. "I feel good and sharp and at my best at this busy period.
"They are fantastic players here. It's fantastic to play with them. We're a hard team to stop and I said to them before the game to try and set me up and they did that, so I'll have to take them out for dinner."
Former England captain Shearer was quick to congratulate the new record-holder.
"You've had a magnificent 2017 @HKane. You deserve to hold the record of most @premierleague goals in a calendar year. Well done and keep up the good work," he tweeted.
Kane's third goal took him to 56 for club and country in 2017 -- lifting him above Barcelona's Lionel Messi to become Europe's top-scorer over the past 12 months in the five major countries (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France).
Kane said it had been a "fantastic" year.
"To get compared to those players -- the Messis and Shearers -- is what it is all about," he said. "To get another hat-trick is a great way to end the year.
"It is always about improving every year. That's what I always have done throughout my career and it is what I will continue to do."
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino hailed the achievement of his star forward.
"It does not surprise us because every day we see how he works, how determined he is and how professional he is," he said. "That can only be good for him.
“Professional is a massive word -- you need to include everything there inside and he is a good example of that."
Kane's caning
♦ With 56 goals for the calendar year, Harry Kane surpassed Lionel Messi (54) to finish as the top scorer across Europe's top five leagues this year.
♦ Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kane are the only players in Europe's top 5 leagues this century to score 55+ goals in a calendar year.
Only two players had previously outscored both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a calendar year; Edin Dzeko and David Villa, both in 2009.
♦ Kane's hattrick against Southampton yesterday was his eighth of the year. He has more hattricks in 2017 than Messi, Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Sergio Aguero and Edinson Cavani combined.
♦ Only five players in Premier League history have scored more hattricks in their entire Premier League career than Harry Kane has in 2017 alone. He finished with six Premier League trebles in the calender year.
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