http://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/players/exclusive-spurs-fa-youth-cup-12550653 Tottenham Hotspur's FA Youth Cup match-winner Kazaiah Sterling believes that Harry Kane has set the standard that all the club's young strikers must strive for.
Kane embodies every academy product's dream. The Walthamstow-born forward worked his way through the age levels at
Spurs, before a series of loan moves toughened him up and added nous to his game as he battled older, experienced defenders.
He returned to the club for the final time under Mauricio Pochettino and has not looked back. The 23-year-old England international is now one of Europe's most feared strikers.
Looking up at him with admiration aplenty is Sterling. The 18-year-old scored both goals in the U18s' 2-0 cup victory on Thursday night at Stevenage's Lamex Stadium to earn Spurs a place in the next round and a trip to Newcastle United.
They were both instinctive finishes, coming after bursts of speed and strength that proved he has the raw tools to plot his own path through the levels of the game.
Football is never that simple though and all academy products face years of hard work, sacrifice and application regardless of their talent in order to make their way through the year groups and sometimes even that's not enough to make that next step to the top level.
With Kane's example though, Sterling feels that he in particular has been given a big boost in belief.
"Harry Kane is the perfect inspiration. He's come through the academy as well. That's the standard I'm trying to hit," he told
football.london.
"It's really good to be a part of the academy at the moment. You've got the first team doing really well and that bodes well for everyone."
Kazaiah Sterling fires Spurs' first goal past Monaco goalkeeper Emmanuel Mifsud
It's not just Tottenham's star striker who Sterling studies though. The teenager admits there is another Premier League hitman he watches closely.
"I like Sergio Aguero especially," he said. "He's a smaller player but he still gets around the pitch a lot."
Sterling joined Spurs from Leyton Orient as a youngster and has represented England at U17 and U18 level.
He has shown plenty of character this season in battling back from an injury which kept him out of the first few months of the campaign.
"The physios, especially Aaron [Harris], have been doing a lot of work with me, so that's really helped me kicked on," he admitted.
He looks hungry to make up for that lost time, although the teenager does seem to have developed an affinity with cup competitions.
He's scored twice in his nine U18 league games this season, but has netted five in three FA Youth Cup performances, scored against Monaco in the UEFA Youth League and starred as Spurs travelled to Florida to win the IMG Cup.
Two years ago he netted in the FA Cup Youth Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
When asked if he came alive in cup games, he chuckled and said: "I guess so. Cup games have a bit more pressure than league games.
"I've been working on my finishing in training and it's paid off."
Kazaiah Sterling in action against CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Youth League
Last season Sterling made appearances for the club's Premier League 2 side - the U23s - but is just looking to get his head down and keep scoring goals for the U18s after finally hitting his stride again after that injury.
When asked what his strengths and weaknesses are as a player, the teenager didn't hesitate even for a split-second with his answer, well aware no doubt from his academy coaches what he needs to work on and what parts of his game are developing quickly.
"My strengths are running in behind to finish, being aggressive and competing," he explained.
"My weakness is probably my play in tight areas, which I can definitely improve on."