Harry Kane admits Erling Haaland has had an ‘incredible’ start to the season, with 11 goals so far

Harry Kane praised the ‘incredible’ impact Erling Haaland has made on Manchester City since joining them over the summer.

The Norwegian has been a key part of their performance so far this season, scoring 14 goals in 10 competitive appearances and leading the Premier League’s golden shoe race with 11 goals in seven City appearances, including hat-tricks against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.

Kane himself has also started the new season strongly, but follows Haaland at some distance, scoring six goals in seven league appearances for Spurs so far this season – equaling Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The 29-year-old England captain named the new Manchester City boy as he spoke of his own strong domestic performance over the past two months.

Before England’s game against Italy, Kane told reporters: “Especially in the Premier League, when you go up against the best strikers, it forces every player around you to get better.

“Everyone is talking about Haaland because he has had an incredible start to the season, and rightly so. As you know me, I don’t focus on too many other people, I focus on myself and what I can do.

“We’ve had a good start to the season with Spurs, we probably haven’t played our best football, but that’s a good sign that we know we can improve. And it’s probably one of the best starts I’ve had in the Premier League.”

Kane appeared to be close to a move to Manchester City last summer, but it ultimately fell through and the striker stayed with Spurs.

Former Borussia Dortmund player Haaland moved to the Etihad this summer after Manchester City activated its £50million severance clause.

City and Spurs are due to meet in Manchester on September 10, but Kane and Haaland’s first league game will have to wait, having been postponed following the death of Her Majesty the Queen two days earlier.