20 minutes into Tottenham’s first Premier League recreation of 2023 and there was one horrifying statistic that confirmed simply how unhealthy issues are at instances beneath Antonio Conte.
Harry Kane, second-highest all-time prime goalscorer in Spurs historical past, third highest goalscorer in Premier League historical past and England’s joint highest all-time goalscorer, hadn’t touched the ball,
Not as soon as, not twice, not thrice, in no way.
As a substitute, Kane was only a spectator roaming across the pitch as a laboured, torpid Tottenham reminded their supporters of how up and down supporting a soccer membership could be.
Within the 2022 calendar yr, Spurs scored 80 instances beneath Antonio Conte, second solely to champions Manchester Metropolis. However of late, they’ve regarded devoid of concepts when Dejan Kulusevski just isn’t within the staff, and that obvious lack of concepts once more got here to the fore in opposition to Unai Emery’s Villa.
Kane would finally get into the sport, and was unfortunate to see an effort cleared off the road by Ashley Younger simply earlier than the interval.
However that is pretty much as good because it obtained for the England captain, who alongside long-time operating buddy Son Heung-min might solely muster a 2/10 score as Villa struck twice within the second half to earn a deserved 2-0 win in north London.
It was a desperately disappointing outing for Kane and one that’s certain to boost considerations among the many membership’s supporters – ought to they be trying past Conte as head coach moderately than the opposite method round? That’s simply one of many questions certain to be requested as supporters stare blankly on the backside of their empty pint glasses.
What Kane mustn’t neglect is his spectacular Premier League document throughout 2022/23 – he is saved issues ticking over all season lengthy with 13 targets in simply 17 video games, with solely Erling Haaland, who’s conceivably half man half machine, scoring extra.
