Mauricio Pochettino: Harry Kane was unfairly criticised

Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino has claimed striker Harry Kane was unfairly criticised and used during the European Championship this summer.

Kane was in fine form once again last season as he fired 25 goals in the Premier League to take home the Golden Boot.

He was unable to help his side win the league title but Spurs did qualify for the Champions League after a stunning campaign, with Leicester eventually lifting the trophy.

The 23-year-old was then expected to fire England to glory at Euro 2016 but he endured a miserable few weeks in France.

Kane was one of a number of players who received plenty of criticism but Pochettino has hit out at his critics.

He told The Sun: “I was very surprised about the criticism because there was no reason for it. No reason at all.

“Always when you are disappointed with the result, you try to find a reason why and the guilty.

But for me, Harry Kane was in the same line up as the other players.

Some good, some bad. “It was not just his responsibility. In football, you need to share responsibility.

For me, it is the manager first, the coaching staff and then the players.

The responsibility is not just down to one player.” Kane was used in a different role under former England boss Roy Hodgson and Pochettino has also hit out at the former Liverpool manager.

He added: “I don’t want to criticise but Harry is a top scorer. So why would you make him take the free kick or corner if the skill of Harry is to score? “You need him to stay in the box, not outside. This is my idea.”

Despite his recent poor form, Kane can be backed at odds of 8.00 to finish as the Premier League’s top scorer this season.