Former England and Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand believes Harry Kane is more than ready to shoulder the pressure of leading the club to Capital One Cup glory against Chelsea. 

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Kane has been a revelation this season, scoring 24 goals in all competitions and turning it on when it matters the most.

The 21-year-old striker proved this ability against this weekend’s opponents in scintillating fashion earlier this season when his brace inspired Spurs to a 4-1 win over Jose Mourinho’s side.

Ferdinand, who worked closely with Kane for the six years prior to joining another former London club QPR in October 2014, is firmly of the belief that Kane is developing into the finished product thanks to the opportunities afforded to the youngster at Spurs.

“Harry’s gone out on quite a few loans but what he’s been given there and then back at Spurs is an opportunity,” Ferdinand, QPR director of football, told Sport360 at Dubai’s Meydan hotel.

“We used to have this argument all the time. We bring foreign players into the Premier League and we give them 18 months to settle but we take a youngster out of the development squad who has had a couple of games in the Championship and if he’s not hit the ground running in three or four games, he’s not good enough. But given the chance and the opportunity these players will come through.

“Harry was always going to come through because he’s got that desire to make himself better and we’re seeing the fruits of that right now.”

Ferdinand is a man who knows the pressures Kane faces all too well.

The 48-year-old made over 100 appearances for the White Hart Lane club and also spent time out on loan as a burgeoning QPR striker, including a stint at Turkish outfit Besiktas.

And Ferdinand believes that those experiences can help make a player as it did himself.

“Unless you give the kids the opportunity they won’t gain experience,” added Ferdinand. “Besiktas in Turkey gave me that opportunity and I took it with both hands. It was the making of me as a footballer. It will work for some players but not for others.”