adminTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR striker Harry Kane and West Bromwich Albion head coach Tony Pulis have been rewarded for their performances in February with the Barclays monthly awards.
For Kane, it is the second month in a row that he has won the award. He scored four goals in February, including the two that beat Arsenal 2-1 in the north London derby and a stoppage-time goal that prevented a home defeat against West Ham United. He also struck at Anfield in the defeat by Liverpool.
The 21-year-old beat Dame N’Doye, of Hull City, Swansea City’s Jonjo Shelvey, Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho, West Brom’s Ben Foster and Mesut Ozil, of Arsenal, to the award.
“I’m very happy, very pleased,” Kane said. “It’s an honour. To win this award once, let alone twice in two months is special.”
As to which of his goals last month were his favourites, Kane picked the ones that Spurs fans would have selected. “Against, Arsenal, winning 2-1, and getting both the goals was a special day for myself, for my career and for the club itself,” he said.
Kane could become the first player to win the award three months in a row, having already scored twice this month in the 2-1 defeat of Queens Park Rangers.
“To make history would be special,” he said. “I’ve scored a couple of goals this month and there’re still a few more games to go so hopefully I’ll be able to get a few more goals and we will see what happens. I’m looking forward to the games ahead.”
Kane is third in the race for the Barclays Golden Boot in a rapid rise to prominence, having only scored his first Barclays Premier League goal at the end of last season, but the striker was confident he could be successful.
“It’s happened quite fast but I’ve always said I had belief in myself,” he said. “It was just waiting to get the chance and being patient and being ready to take it. I’ve been able to do that. I have loved every minute of playing and have loved my football so much at the moment, playing with my mates, in a great team and a great squad. I am looking forward to the rest of the games.”
Pulis, who took over at The Hawthorns in January, picks up his second Barclays Manager of the Month award after steering West Brom to an unbeaten month of results in the Barclays Premier League. After a 2-2 draw at Burnley, Pulis’s side beat Swansea City 2-0 at The Hawthorns, before a goalless draw at Sunderland and a 1-0 home win over Southampton. His previous award came in April last season, when he was in charge at Crystal Palace.
“I’m very happy and honoured,” said Pulis upon receiving is award. “Since I came to the club everyone has made me feel welcome: that’s the players, the training ground staff and, most importantly, the fans.
“What we need to do now is make sure we finish the season on a high.”
Votes for the awards came from the Barclays Panel, a group of former players, journalists and key football stakeholders. — SuperSport
Online Reporter