Spurs’ award-winning CF was ahead of Kane, then Poch sold him for £208k

Relating to the fashionable icons of Tottenham Hotspur, they do not come a lot grander than Harry Kane.

The England captain won’t have received any trophies throughout his time in North London, however he made an unlimited impression on the membership.

For instance, in 435 first-team appearances, the membership legend amassed a staggering tally of 280 objectives and 61 assists, which comes out to a median of a purpose involvement each 1.27 video games.

It is unattainable to think about Spurs’ trendy historical past with out Kane, but earlier than his breakthrough, there was one other promising striker within the academy who was forward of him, a striker who Mauricio Pochettino ultimately bought for a pittance.

Kane’s early Spurs profession

As everybody is aware of, Kane’s soccer journey began in North London, however on the crimson aspect, with Spurs’ bitter rivals Arsenal.

Nevertheless, the Gunners launched the long run famous person when he was simply 12 years outdated, with then-academy supervisor Roy Massey later revealing that the membership did not consider the teenager had what was wanted to make it within the sport.

After just a few years and not using a skilled membership, {the teenager} joined the Lilywhites and, after spending a while within the youth system, went on a number of mortgage strikes all around the nation.

In between his mortgage strikes, the Walthamstow-born ace nonetheless made 13 appearances for the U21s between the 12/13 and 13/14 seasons, scoring 9 objectives and offering 9 assists.

Lastly, after going out on quite a few mortgage spells, taking part in within the academy and making the odd first-team look right here and there, the Englishman was given his first correct probability to determine himself because the membership’s beginning quantity 9 within the 14/15 season, below new boss Pochettino.

This was a chance he grabbed with each fingers.

In 51 appearances, he scored 31 objectives and offered 5 assists, and the remainder, as they are saying, is historical past.

Nevertheless, just a few years earlier than Kane lastly made his mark on the staff, there was one other up-and-coming striker forward of him within the pecking order, a striker who thrived within the academy and appeared promising, however ultimately moved on for subsequent to nothing.

The Spurs striker who was forward of Kane

So, if we had been to journey again to the distant 12 months of 2009, we could be speaking a couple of sure Spurs teenager turning heads within the membership’s academy by the identify of Jonathan Obika.

It was on the finish of the 2008/09 season that the followers awarded {the teenager} the membership’s Breakthrough Award, as despite the fact that he was simply 18 on the time, he made his debut for the membership in November 2008, in a UEFA Cup sport towards NEC Nijmegen.

The following six years or so would see the teenager spend time on mortgage with numerous golf equipment, together with Yeovil City, Peterborough, Millwall, Swindon City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace.

Nevertheless, there have been additionally spells by which he returned to play for the Lilywhites U21s, and he appeared glorious doing so.

For instance, in simply 17 appearances within the 12/13 season – when Kane was struggling on mortgage with Norwich and Leicester Metropolis – the Enfield-born poacher racked up a tally of 18 objectives and 4 assists, which comes out to a median of 1.29 purpose involvements per sport.

Sadly, Pochettino didn’t see a future for the striker, who at one level appeared destined to succeed in the highest when he took cost in 2014, and simply two years on from his barnstorming performances for the U21s, Obika was bought to Swindon for simply £208k.

He won’t have reached the heights that folks thought he would’ve when he was making his method by Tottenham’s academy, however within the 11 years since his sale, the 34-year-old has carved out a formidable profession for himself.

Following his time with Swindon, he performed for Oxford United, St Mirren, Morecambe and Motherwell earlier than retiring in July of final 12 months, with a profession that may not match as much as the likes of Kane however remains to be one thing most may solely dream of.