Pochettino backed kane to score 50 goals this season

Mauricio Pochettino has backed Harry Kane to score 50 goals for Tottenham this season and break Clive Allen’s record in the process.

Allen’s 49 strikes in the 1986-87 campaign have never been bettered by a Spurs player in a single campaign, yet Kane has 33 in all competitions this season with three months still remaining until its conclusion.

Pochettino said: “He is capable of everything. I hope he can maybe break this record because I trust him and I know him very well. We see him every day working and I can tell you he is capable of everything in football.

“If any player can do it, it is him. He has the mentality, the determination and of course the talent.”

Kane maybe rested for Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Rochdale, which Pochettino argues will be tougher than either of Spurs’ last two matches, against Arsenal and Juventus.

Tottenham beat Arsenal 1-0 and produced a fine performance to draw 2-2 in Turin but Pochettino is wary of the League One club, especially after his side needed a replay to get past Newport, of League Two, in round four.

Pochettino added: “It will be a more difficult game because the challenge is to be motivated. We want to go further in this competition but we have to be at our best if we want to win.

“If we win, we are one step closer to winning a title. If we can go further, maybe the fact we are playing home games at Wembley is a little advantage, as we have played there a lot now and it is starting to feel like home.

“We have to forget about Juventus and Arsenal. There is no time to enjoy those performances, because we now have to be focused on a different competition.”