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Harry Kane targets more goals in 2015
03:28 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

A winter World Cup in Qatar might be just the tonic England needs, says the country’s latest rising star.

The World Cup final in 2022 will be held on December 18 after world governing body FIFA decided to move the tournament to the Qatari winter, following fears over the intense summer temperatures in the Gulf state.

“I think we will be a lot fitter at that time of year compared to the end of a long season,” Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane told CNN’s Kate Riley.

Since winning international football’s most coveted trophy in 1966, the best England have managed is a semifinal appearance in 1990, with many experts arguing the English national team is handicapped by not having a winter break.

Unlike France, Spain, Italy and Germany, the English Premier League has a grueling fixture schedule over Christmas and the New Year.

“It could be beneficial for us,” added Kane, who picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year award in a season that also saw him make his international debut – and score his first England goal after just 79 seconds.

“It will be another experience, something new, and it will be something to look forward to,” said Kane, who will be in 29 in 2022.

Last season, Kane’s 21 league goals helped propel Spurs to fifth in the Premier League and the striker is now targeting a Champions League place in the 2015/2016 campaign.

“We will be looking to go in the top four,” said the 22-year-old Kane, who scored 32 goals in all competitions last season.

“There are a lot of top teams in the Premier League and I think the top seven or eight teams can all fight for Champions League spots.

“We came fifth last year which was a good season for us. We had a cup final in there as well,” added Kane, referring to Spurs’ League Cup final defeat by Chelsea. “For a young team that is a great experience.

“We have set a building block now that we will try and improve on this year. We are really looking forward to next season and seeing how far we can go.”

As someone who has been with Spurs since the age of 11, Kane couldn’t help but hide his pleasure in recalling his performance against rivals Arsenal in the North London derby in February.

Tottenham were without a win in the fixture for four games – a run stretching back to September 2013 – but two second-half goals from Kane turned the match around at White Hart Lane.

“The last North London derby was my first, and the atmosphere was unbelievable,” he recalls.

“To score two goals and win 2-1 was just a dream come true and probably the highlight of my career so far in a club shirt, and just an incredible atmosphere, an incredible day, and one I won’t forget.”

It won’t be long before Spurs are playing in a very different atmosphere, with the club planning to build a 56,000-seater stadium, which can be increased to 61,000 and will be sited adjacent to their existing 36,000 capacity ground.

The new stadium is expected to open in the summer of 2018, ensuring Spurs will have to play their home games away from White Hart Lane during the 2017/18 season, which has prompted talk of Wembley Stadium becoming their temporary home.

“If that happens [playing at Wembley] it would be great,” Kane said.

“It’s obviously an amazing stadium, and it would be great to play there every couple of weeks or so; but obviously I’m not sure how far along that is.

“That’s obviously down to the club to get that sorted, but wherever we play we’ll be happy and let’s hope we’ll get the job done.”

Spurs have also signed a deal with the NFL to host at least two matches per season at the new stadium and being a huge NFL fan – Kane named his dogs Tom and Russell after quarterbacks Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks – the striker can’t wait.

“It’s incredible. To be watching NFL games there will be unbelievable. It’s exciting times ahead. It’s an exciting future for the club. I just can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.”

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