Spurs so indebted to King Kane, but for how much longer?

Tottenham (1) 1 Kane 45

Crystal Palace (0) 0

Outside the ground, they have banners telling Enic and Daniel Levy to move along. They will never say that about Harry Kane.

Home fans have had little to cheer them this season. There have been way too many limp/downright embarrassing displays – especially in those matches against the top sides that count for most, the City home win excepted.

But the talisman has been the one constant they could all rely on.

Yet the fear grows ever stronger that, having established himself as Spurs’ all-time record goal scorer, he may finally be prized away to a team with a better chance of silverware.

The prospect of Kane v Haaland on the Manchester billboards for next season may thrill Old Trafford, but it is a scenario laced with grim foreboding for Tottenham fans.

Harry was the inevitable catalyst for another win against Palace – their eighth in a row against the south Londoners on home soil – when he headed in imperiously at the far post from a Pedro Porro cross seconds before half-time.

He can make the difference in those tight games and United know it. Even in a non-vintage Spurs side, he now has 27 goals for the club in this campaign.

Near the end of a largely forgettable game, he was back in the six-yard box clearing a cross as the Eagles threatened an equaliser. His commitment never seems to waver, however dispiriting the bigger picture may be.

The fans crave a change of direction and personnel and some of it is inevitable, with skipper Hugo Lloris, for exmple, having maybe already played his last game for the club thanks to a thigh injury picked up in the thrashing at Newcastle.

One thing they won’t want to change, however, is the identity of the man they have come to pin their hopes on more than anyone in recent years.

It is probably a fair assumption that whoever Ryan Mason has warmed the hotseat for – Julian Nagelsmann seems to be the current favourite – they will want Kane to feature in their planning too.

Tottenham’s Coronation Day triumph over the Eagles at a rainswept TH Stadium makes little difference to the top four chase. That ship has sailed. But they are still in with a shout when it comes to qualifying for Thursday night football.

The lively Porro had the sort of energy levels the new man will be looking for. He was outstanding down the right and almost capped a fine display with another goal following his first for the club in the comeback draw against Man United.

His deflected drive needed a firm hand from keeper Sam Johnstone to steer it over the bar.

Spurs were far from brilliant but looked a little less discombobulated than in recent games – having shipped 15 in the previous four outings. It was a first clean sheet in the league since the visit of Chelsea two months ago.

Spurs were worth their win, though. Christian Romero headed against the crossbar, and Heung-Min Son was thwarted by the fingertips of Johnstone as he tried to round the Palace keeper.

The summer to come will be all about Harry. As it always is in winter.

Spurs: (3-4-2-1) Forster – Romero, Lenglet (Dier 88), Davies – Porro, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Emerson Royal – Son (Danjuma 88), Richarlison (Kulusevski 79) – Kane. Subs not used: Sanchez, Perisic, Lucas Moura, Sarr, Bissouma, Austin

Eagles: (4-3-3) Johnstone – Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell – Eze, Doucoure, Schlupp (Hughes 73) – Olise, Ajew (Edouard 84), Zaha. Subs not used: Milivojevic, Sambi Lokonga, Guaita, Mateta, Clyne, Richards, Riedewald

Attendance: 61,093