Harry Kane has said he was motivated by critics who predicted last summer he would fail to live up to the standards he set in his breakthrough campaign.

After taking his season total to 24 in Tottenham’s 4-0 win at Stoke on Monday – one more than Aston Villa’s team and two clear of the next best player, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy – the striker said he has proven the detractors who said he was a one-season wonder wrong.

“There was a lot of talk at the start of the season,” Kane said. “It fuelled the fire in my belly to want to prove them wrong and I’ve gone and done that. It doesn’t stop here for me. It’s not a case of: ‘OK, I’m happy where I am’. I want to go and get more goals, create my chances for the team and do my best for Tottenham Hotspur.”

Victory over Stoke closed the gap to Leicester to five points with four games remaining. Tottenham’s next three fixtures are on a Monday, meaning Leicester will have played 24 hours before. Will that be a benefit or hindrance to Spurs? Kane would not be drawn, focusing solely on his own team’s results.

He said: “All we can do is keep doing what we’re doing. We’ve got to win all our games. We want to win all four of them and then we will go from there. Leicester have got some tough games coming up. They’re in the driving seat. All we can do is keep winning our games.”

“You want Leicester to drop points – we want to win the league at the end of the day but we have to go out there and do our job. Whether they win, lose or draw, we have to win. I’m sure we’ll push them all the way.”

Kane was also coy when asked about Vardy’s sending off against West Ham. The league leaders’ top scorer is expected to be given a two-match suspension following a charge of improper conduct relating to his reaction towards the referee Jon Moss. “It’s hard for me to talk about,” Kane said. “The referee has made a decision and whatever way he’s reacted, he’s reacted. It’s down to the FA and whatever they choose to do.”

He did admit his surprise that his team-mate Toby Alderweireld was not named alongside him on the shortlist for the PFA player of the year. Kane, who won the young player of the year award last season, is unsure if he will attend Sunday’s ceremony because of Monday’s game against West Bromwich Albion.

Alderweireld has played every game in the centre of defence, committing only nine fouls. Kane said: “He has been phenomenal for us this season. He’s really been a great player and he’s a great guy. I’m a little bit surprised he isn’t on there. I think he has been fantastic and everyone has seen that. Maybe defenders don’t always get the recognition like the other players get. He’s a great lad and he will keep on doing what he’s doing for us.”