Eric Dier has told the London Evening Standard that Harry Kane is unlucky to miss out on the Ballon d’Or shortlist, but predicts nominations for his Tottenham Hotspur teammates in the future.
Spurs goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris has been named on the 30-man shortlist but Kane missed out, despite finishing as Premier League top scorer with 25 goals, ahead of nominees Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero.
Lloris, Aguero and Vardy are among seven Premier League players to be shortlisted along with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester United pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet of West Ham and Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez.
“Leicester won the league but that doesn’t mean to say Harry should miss out. He had a fantastic season. To be top scorer in the league after the slow start he had was a brilliant achievement,” Dier said of Kane, who failed to score in his first nine matches last season.
“He could have been on that list, though I am sure he is not too bothered about it. We have many players who can be on it in the future, though, if they want to. It is a matter of working hard and trying to improve.”
The shortlist will be trimmed down to three, with Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo expected to reclaim the award from Barcelona rival Lionel Messi after helping Portugal win Euro 2016 and his club the Champions League.
Kane has been sidelined since injuring his ankle against Sunderland on Sept. 18 and Spurs have struggled without him, scoring just once from open play in the last four matches.
The England striker, 22, has resumed light training and the club are hopeful he will return in time for the North London derby against Arsenal on Nov. 6.
His replacement Vincent Janssen scored a penalty in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup fourth-round but Daniel Sturridge’s double left Spurs winless in four matches since the dominant 2-0 win over Manchester City.
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