Harry Kane has revealed how Alan Shearer's advice helped him out of a 'dry spell' as he aims to break the former Newcastle man's Premier League calendar year scoring record.
The Tottenham striker has scored 33 league goals in a stellar 2017 and needs four more in Spurs' final three games of the year to break the record Shearer set while at Blackburn in 1995.
His goalscoring exploits earned him a place among the nominees for this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize, with the winner to be decided by public vote at Sunday's awards ceremony at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
MOST GOALS IN A CALENDAR YEAR - PREMIER LEAGUE
Player Club Goals Year
Alan Shearer Blackburn 36 1995
Robin van Persie Arsenal 35 2011
Thierry Henry Arsenal 34 2004
Harry Kane Tottenham 33* 2017
Alan Shearer Blackburn 30 1994
Les Ferdinand Newcastle 30 1995
Ruud van Nistlerooy Man Utd 30 2003
Kane says Shearer, now a pundit for the BBC, was an 'inspirational figure' growing up and someone who he has turned to for advice.
'I've met Alan a few times and he's always been very good with me,' said Kane.
'We've spoken about a striker's mentality and finishing. The first time I met him I was going through a bit of a dry spell in terms of goals in the Premier League and he just told me to keep believing in myself and the chances and goals would come, and they did in the end and of course I went on to win the Golden Boot.
'It was good to listen to him and you have to respect what he has achieved in his career.
'He was a great finisher but above all I liked how he scored different types of goals. Headers, goals from distance, poacher's goals... all sorts of finishes.'
BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2017 NOMINEES
Harry Kane Football
Anthony Joshua Boxing
Lewis Hamilton Formula One
Anya Shrubsole Cricket
Chris Froome Cycling
Sir Mo Farah Athletics
Elise Christie Ice Speed Skating
Jonathan Rea Motorsports
Johanna Konta Tennis
Jonnie Peacock Athletics
Adam Peaty Swimming
Bianca Walkden Martial Arts
In Kane's sights now is Shearer's calendar year record.
'(The record) is very close and as a striker you get judged on your goal records so it would be a big milestone to break it,' Kane added.
'But I won't get too fixated on it, I just try to take each game as it comes, try to make sure we win our upcoming games and if I can look back on January 1 and hold that record then I'd obviously be very proud.'
Kane hopes to have a double reason to celebrate, as he aims to become the first footballer to win the BBC's flagship sporting award since Ryan Giggs in 2009.
'This was always the awards show I remember watching when I was a kid, so to be nominated and be up there with the elite of British sport is fantastic,' he said.
'I wasn't expecting it at the time when it was announced but it would be great to win it.'