Kane went to League One Leyton Orient – making his professional debut in January 2011 at Rochdale, coming on for veteran striker Scott McGleish. Kane would score five times in nine starts.
McGleish: “Harry was not like other Premier League players, where you feel they’re going to come in ‘Billy Big Time’. He wanted the experience of learning what I call men’s football.
“From the word go he was ready to fight for his place. In training, he was willing to just knuckle down and work hard.
“You could see in training and subsequently the matches he had ability and a desire to go further, but you’re still looking like a young 17-year-old: very slight, still needing to physically develop, not the quickest but technically excellent.”
After a few first-team games for Spurs, he went on loan in January 2012 to Championship strugglers Millwall. Kane’s nine goals helped save Kenny Jackett’s side from relegation.
Former Millwall defender Alan Dunne: “I’ve seen a lot of players come to the Den and freeze, because within five minutes they’re being called names they’ve never heard before and they can’t cope with that pressure.
“But it didn’t faze him – he was a focused lad, he was confident in his ability.”
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood: “I used to watch Harry a lot at Millwall, and it was an intimidating atmosphere. I remember overhearing one of our scouts come and talk to Harry Redknapp – who was Spurs manager at the time – and say: ‘We need to get Harry Kane out of Millwall, it’s no good for him there.’
“I went straight in and said: ‘This is the perfect atmosphere for him.”
After making his Premier League debut for Tottenham in August 2012, Kane was sent on loan again. The 19-year-old only made three appearances in the top flight for Norwich because of injury, and then had a loan spell at Leicester where he and future England team-mate Jamie Vardy struggled for regular starts.