Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Alan Hutton thinks that Harry Kane is trying a little too hard to improve his current form.

The 28-year-old has come under some criticism this season as his performances have notably dropped a level.

Some have suggested Kane has struggled to refocus after Tottenham denied him the chance to leave the club for Manchester City in the summer.

Although he’s found the net regularly in the Europa Conference League, he’s struggled for goals in the Premier League as he hasn’t scored at all so far.

Amid his hectic summer and subsequent goal drought, Hutton believes the England captain is trying to force things at the moment.

He said on BBC Radio 5 Live (3:54pm, October 3): “He is one of the best strikers in the world for me, and he always will be. You go through these patches.

“Obviously what happened in the summer has affected him, but maybe at the moment, he is just trying a little bit too hard. He is trying to get into the spaces where normally it comes naturally to him.”

Kane’s performance in Spurs’ 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday was certainly an improvement on what he has produced in recent weeks, but he still didn’t find the goal he is clearly looking for.

Time away with England may help him regain some form and confidence, something that would be an obvious boost for Tottenham, who will need him to be at his best in the coming weeks as they prepare for difficult away trips against Newcastle and West Ham.