Under-21 European Championships: 'We back Harry Kane's Euro dream' says Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino

But club would expect the striker to play in their end-of-season trip to Sydney

Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham Hotspur will help Harry Kane play at this summer’s European Under-21 Championship if selected (Getty Images)

Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, says the club will help Harry Kane play at this summer’s European Under-21 Championship, if selected.

The 21-year-old, 30-goal striker scored 79 seconds into his senior England debut against Lithuania at Wembley last Friday night, and then made his first start in the 1-1 friendly draw in Italy on Tuesday.

The England manager, Roy Hodgson, wants Kane to continue his international development with the Under-21s this summer, after helping Gareth Southgate’s team qualify unbeaten for the June tournament in the Czech Republic.

Spurs, meanwhile, are set for an end-of-season trip to Sydney for a match at the ANZ Stadium on 30 May, in which Kane would be expected to play.

Pochettino, though, believes with the right discussions a positive solution for all parties can be found.

“It is a very good thing for him [Kane],” the Argentine said. “I think that it is true that all that has happened was very quick, but in football the good times and the bad things can happen quickly. But it is real and he deserves the present and I am pleased for him.

“There are a lot of questions. I think that we have ahead eight very important [Premier League] games and we have time to speak about a lot of things that happen in the future. Harry Kane is our player and if I decide he is in the squad to go to Sydney, it is our decision. But I think we have time to speak in the future about Sydney or the European [Under-21] competition.”

Pochettino added: “We want to help the national team, the player, and in this case we always have a very good relationship. We need to share the decision. The first [consideration] is the player, the FA and us.

“There are a lot of things to discuss with the FA, with Gareth Southgate, with us, but always we try to find the best for the player, for the national team and what is logical for Tottenham.”

Despite all the hype, Pochettino expects Kane to stay focused on the job in hand. “Harry’s confidence is full now, but always in football you can improve. You need to put this idea in your head for always to move on,” he said.

“I think Harry is a very clever person. He has his feet on the ground and this is important because in football always it is difficult to keep your level, when you arrive at this level you have to keep working hard and to have the right mentality to improve.”

PA