‘That was the time in my career where it was the hardest’ - England star reflects on ill-fated loan spell at Norwich City

Harry Kane has gone on to become one of the world's leading strikers after his loan spell at Norwich City. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222)

Kane endured an unsuccessful loan spell at Carrow Road in the 2012/13 season, failing to score in the five appearances he made during a period that was badly disrupted by a broken bone in his foot.

Kane has obviously gone on to become arguably one of the hottest strikers in world football as well as being named England skipper.

But the 27-year-old believes his loan spell at Norwich as well as Leyton Orient, Millwall and Leicester helped shape the player he is today.

“I had four loan spells - Leyton Orient when I was 17, was really good for me, scored some goals and it was a good experience,” Kane told the ITV Football Show.

“Millwall was the same, in the Championship at 18, so going into Norwich at 19 it was just about taking another step and proving I can score in the Premier League.

“But I didn’t really look at it as my last chance. Whenever I went on loan it was always in my mind to come back and play for Spurs. Obviously that loan didn’t go great - I got an injury quite early on and when I came back I couldn’t get in the team.

“So I ended up going to Leicester in the same year for six months and the same thing happened. I couldn’t get into the team and I was on the bench quite a lot.

“That was probably the time in my career where it was the hardest - I was 19 and I was thinking ‘if I can’t play for Norwich or for Leicester, even in the Championship at the time, then how I am going to get back and play for Tottenham?”

When Kane went back to north London in the summer of 2013 he was determined to prove himself at White Hart Lane.

“I remember quite well that I came back the year after and Andre Villas-Boas was the manager and there was talk of sending me back on loan that summer and I said to him that I want to stay and fight for my place and that I believe that I’m good enough.

“So I did, I played now and then for six months and I was still there and then Tim Sherwood got the job and I got my chance. Then Mauricio (Pochettino) came in the summer after and it went from there.

“But I think sticking to my guns and kind of saying I want to stay and fight for my place was a big turning point in my career.”