Harry Redknapp has admitted he is surprised by Harry Kane's rise from Tottenham reserve to a 30-goals-a-season Premier League and international star.

The former Spurs boss handed Kane his first team debut in a Europa League qualifier against Hearts in August 2011 and the striker won a penalty, which he took himself but it was saved.

Kane went on to play six times in the competition that season, scoring his first Spurs goal against Shamrock Rovers in December, but Redknapp admits he didn't anticipate Kane's rapid progress.

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp thinks Harry Kane is the Footballer of the Year

Kane scored 31 goals in all competitions last season and Redknapp is surprised at his rapid rise to the top

The striker has also risen up through the England ranks, scoring on his senior debut in March 2015

'I always thought he’d be a player, we all thought he’d be a Premier League player. But I’d be lying if I said I saw him getting 30 goals a year,' he wrote on his kicca blog.

Redknapp revealed that he wanted to sign Kane on loan during his time as Queens Park Rangers manager, and believes his work ethic is similar to that of Frank Lampard.

'It’s not luck, the kid works at his game. He practices, he trains, and he lives for football.

'He’s very similar to Frank Lampard in that respect - he will spend hours on the training ground working and practising and wanting to be better.

'We can all say ‘well he’s done this and that…’ he’s done it himself basically, he had that attitude where he was determined and wanted to be a top player and he’s worked and worked and worked and he’s getting the rewards and it’s fantastic.

The 21-year-old won a penalty on his Spurs debut in a Europa League qualifier against Hearts in August 2012

Redknapp gave the striker his first start at Spurs but his penalty on debut was saved by Jamie MacDonald

HARRY KANE CAREER STATS Born: Chingford, 28/7/1993 (Age 21) Senior Debut: 2011 vs Hearts Total Appearances: 142 Goals: 52 Clubs: Tottenham Hotspur (2009-Present) Leyton Orient (loan: 2010-11) Millwall (loan: 2011-12) Norwich City (loan: 2012-13) Leicester City (loan (2012-13) International Appearances: 2 (1 goal) Honours: Millwall Young Player of the Season: 2011–12 Premier League Player of the Month: January 2015, February 2015 PFA Team of the Year: 2014–15 PFA Young Player of the Year: 2014–15 Advertisement

He was sent to Leyton Orient on loan in League One, before joining Millwall in the Championship, scoring nine times.

Kane then had a relatively unsuccessful spell with Norwich in the Premier League where he failed to score in five appearances.

He played 19 times in his breakthrough season for Spurs last season, and scored four times for the club.

But the striker has been in impressive form this campaign, netting 31 times in all competitions, including 23 in the Premier League, which saw him earn an England call up and score after just 79 seconds of his debut

And Redknapp says he should have won the Footballer of the Year award.

'It’s been an amazing season, for me he’s the Footballer of the Year. That’s my opinion, I’d put him in front of Hazard.'