Just as the Harry Kane apologists were beginning to diminish or be drowned out, the Spurs striker confirmed his status as a devastating Fantasy asset with a bolt from the blue.
Kane’s hat-trick delivered an unexpected season-high haul of 17 points at Burnley, a venue that had previously seen just three goals conceded to away sides.
The foundations for Kane’s treble were laid early with a first penalty kick of the season for Spurs.
A controversial incident involving Dele Alli – who was perhaps fortunate to be on the pitch following an early cautioned foul – that crucial early goal opened the game up. That allowed Mauricio Pochettino’s side to belie their recent form and put on an impressive attacking display.
Under those conditions, Kane could emphatically underline his Fantasy credentials. His eight shots, with six arriving in the penalty area, were again a Gameweek high.
The striker was sold by 108,000 ahead of Friday’s deadline, having lost 135,000 owners in Gameweek 18.
He will now next on Southampton at Wembley Stadium in Gameweek 20 with renewed confidence. An assured starter, that fixture now creates another scenario that could punish recent sellers further.
Some 867,000 opted for Kane as their captain this weekend – only 40% of his ownership. That figure will surely increase for the visit of Southampton.
Kane needs just one strike against the Saints to beat Alan Shearer’s record for the most Premier League goals scored in a calendar year. Meanwhile, Southampton will arrive without a clean sheet in their last ten Gameweeks.
The striker’s comments post-match made it obvious that the record will be on his mind come Boxing Day.
“We wanted the second goal to kill the game and when I scored it, I thought ‘right, let’s get the hat-trick’, I was happy to put that one away, I’m really pleased. I can now go into the game on Tuesday and try to get the record, that would be a great achievement.”
Kane now has 15 goals for the season – level with Mohamed Salah – and is up to 114 points in FPL overall’s standings – placing him fourth behind Salah (145), Raheem Sterling (125) and Kevin De Bruyne (116).
It remains to be seen how the market reacts, with Kane facing the missing fixture in Gameweek 21, before a double-header against Swansea City (away) and West Ham United (home) in Gameweek 22.
Should his price rise, it will be another consideration for those contemplating trading the striker out for his blank Gameweek, with extra profit potentially lost along with the transfers involved.
It will also mean those pondering a move back for Kane may have to find more cash to fund the deal ahead of his double.
After all the recent questioning and debate, there can be no question that Kane will be seen as near essential for Gameweek 22, with the Triple Captain chip also being prepared.
Pochettino shuffles the pack
Elsewhere for Spurs, there were four changes to the line-up, as Serge Aurier and Ben Davies ousted Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose in the latest phase of rotation at full-back. We have to presume that this will be reversed on Boxing Day.
Davinson Sanchez returned from his suspension to take his place in the back four, with Eric Dier shifting to midfield. Harry Winks was missing with a minor ankle injury.
Two assists for Alli signalled brief respite from a miserable run of form, yet the controversy of the early penalty, plus his challenge that may well have warranted a dismissal, overshadowed those events.
Alli remains on the periphery of Fantasy thinking, while even a resurgent Christian Eriksen is struggling to compete for midfield selection in our squads.
The Dane blanked on Saturday having returned in each of his last four Gameweeks.
