Harry Kane’s Real progress: A Leyton Orient sub the last time Tottenham visited the Spanish giants in 2011, now he’s helped Spurs to a 1-1 draw
England striker was a slow-burner on loan with lower-league clubs but his achievements since returning to Spurs was summed up on a proud Champions League night
HARRY KANE showed it is better Leyton never as he shone for Tottenham at Real Madrid - after being a substitute for Orient the last time Spurs played there in 2011.
England's main man managed just five minutes as a 17-year-old when then-League One side Orient drew 1-1 at Rochdale six years ago - while Real were routing Tottenham 4-0 at the Bernabeu.
Fast forward and Orient are now mid-table in the National League after two relegations and Spurs are matching Cristiano Ronaldo and Co on the Spaniards' home turf in the Champions League.
In fact, it was Kane's shrewd run that led to Real defender Raphael Varane turning Serge Aurier's cross into his own net for the opener.
Ronaldo drilled Real's point-saving penalty just before the break.
But Tottenham remain on course for the knockout phase and Kane is another step further away from his humble path to stardom.
The Londoner is one of the few Premier League stars to have risen to the top via lower-league loans - although Dele Alli, his team-mate for club and country, made his name during a permanent spell with MK Dons.
Kane followed up his spell at Orient with slow-burning stints for Millwall, Norwich and Leicester.
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And his Spurs career only truly took off a year after his return, when he hit the winner as a substitute against Aston Villa and was promoted to a regular start.
Now he is commonly touted as England's only player of proven world class.
Clubs like Real, Barcelona and Manchester United are reportedly monitoring his future, even though Kane has insisted he would be happy to see out his career with Spurs.
Fifteen goals from his past 11 matches for England and Tottenham have cemented his status as one of Europe's superstars.
And Real chief Zinedine Zidane hailed him as "very good in every aspect".
That must be a dream statement to hear for a player who has had his doubters for much of his still-fledgling professional career.
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