Kane hat-trick puts Tottenham second – but it comes at a price

Tottenham produced an impressive display to cast West Brom aside in the Saturday lunch-time game, but it wasn’t without it’s problems.

While Harry Kane roared to a hat-trick, defender Jan Vertonghen went off in tears after appearing to roll his ankle – the same one which forced him to miss last summer’s Euros.

It remains to be seen how long the Belgian will be out for.

But overall it must be considered a good day’s football from Spurs, who now go second in the table after their sixth straight victory.

Liverpool could retake that spot on Sunday, but Tottenham’s greater goal difference means the Reds must win at Manchester United.

And having been 20/1 to win the league before their win over Chelsea, Spurs are now just 7/1 to claim the title.

West Brom have faired pretty well against Spurs in recent seasons, but they never got going at the Lane.

Kane and a Gareth MaCauley on-goal put Pochettino’s men 2-0 up at the break, before a late second-half double from the England striker sealed the match and his hat-trick.

And having been considered a 33/1 shot to win the Premier League golden boot after his injury earlier this season, Kane is now firmly in the running for the third straight year.

His three-goal haul today has lifted the 23-year-old onto 13 for the season, level with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexis Sanchez, and just one behind Diego Costa.

And following the fallout between Costa and Chelsea this week, many will be backing Kane to win out from here on in.

Kane has now netted 11 times in 11 games since returning from injury in November.

Fans will hope Vertonghen’s injury isn’t as bad as first feared, as on their current form, this Tottenham side are looking like Premier League champions in waiting.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.