Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane will break every goalscoring record when he retires, according to club manager Antonio Conte.
The 29-year-old England captain needs just three more goals to become Spurs’ all-time record goalscorer after scoring in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace.
The double – which took Kane to 15 in the Premier League this season – moved him to 264 goals, two shy of the late Jimmy Greaves.
Kane has 198 Premier League goals, with only Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208) ahead of him.
“I think about Harry, I think we wasted time explaining what kind of player he is,” Conte said after Spurs’ first win since the Premier League resumed after the World Cup break.
“I repeat, we are talking about a world-class striker and he will break every record with goals.”
Conte said he believes Kane will set new milestones based on his strong character.
Kane had to bounce back after missing a penalty in the World Cup quarter-final against France, which France won 2-1. If he had converted he would also have been England’s record goalscorer.
He made no mistake with his first spot-kick, beating Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris to equal Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals.
“For us, he is an important point of reference, not only in terms of goals but also on the pitch and with Hugo (Lloris) our captain,” Conte said.
“Especially in difficult times, Harry, you know he’s ready to fight, ready to help his friends, ready to solve situations with purpose, with help.
“To continue this way, to face every positive or negative situation, always with a good spirit, a good character, to overcome the difficulties I think at this time and also before the start of the World Cup.”
Tottenham’s win leaves them just two points clear of fourth-placed Manchester United, although the latter have a game in hand.
Kane has the potential to break Tottenham’s record this weekend in the FA Cup third round against Portsmouth.
However, Conte may want to rest him as the club’s next league game is on Sunday at home to north London rivals Arsenal.