Brendan Rodgers has saluted Harry Kane for turning silver into gold.
The Celtic manager poured praise onto the England captain who now spearheads Champion League rival Bayern Munich’s attack. Kane has moved to the elite of the game and Rodgers is a big admirer of the ability and also the application to hit the top. He said: “He’s absolutely brilliant. Obviously, I’ve known Harry for a long time and come across him many times. Harry’s actually one of those ones that until you’re stood on the side of the pitch and you face him, you actually only then really, really see his level.
“He wasn’t what I would say the gold medalist. And that’s normally the players that come through anyway, those silver medalist players, the guys that are having to strive and fight for their careers. And that was Harry, he would tell you himself. I know as a young player, he came through the system at Tottenham. It wasn’t easy for him at the beginning. He had lots of loans getting out to clubs and didn’t quite work out.
“I remember him as a youth player and then going out on loan when he was young. I’d seen him at spells , I think he was at Millwall, he was actually at Leicester as well for a bit. I’d seen him play at Norwich. Then he was given the opportunity by Tim Sherwood at Tottenham.
“Tim had belief in him and had worked with him as a young player. Once he got into the team his development just improved from that. And you look at him now, he’s a world-class player.
“But he’s changed his game a wee bit as well in the last number of years, where he’s on the move more, dropping short, you see his passing, you see his abilities. But he’s also tough. He’s a tough boy as well, Harry.
“Tim put him in the team and from that he’s never really looked back. And then it’s all about your attitude, your professionalism, your desire to be the best player you can be. And you see all of that. You see how he’s developed, how he’s matured, he’s training, everything.
“I’ve obviously spoken to boys that work with him with England as well and they speak so highly of him. So a world-class player and he’s doing a brilliant job for his team now.
“I think he was absolutely brilliant at Tottenham, showed the same for England and he’s gone out to Bayern and you just need to look at his goals record. A fantastic player and a good guy. We know that.”
Celtic must stop Kane and Rodgers added: “I always think with top players it’s difficult. You look tactically to find ways, and that’s the beauty of the game. You’re trying to nullify their strengths.
“But I sometimes think with the very, very best players you want to deny them space but they’ll always find space. That’s my experience of working at a level where world-class players will find the space. I think he’s one of those.
“But of course, we have to nullify that threat. They have other quality players too. And then obviously we have to bring our game as well, which I’ve been really pleased with at this level. We’ve shown that we can hurt teams at this level.”