Tottenham Hotspur: Young Forward Pair Kane and Obika Facing Make-or-Break Season

One of the few bright spots of England's underwhelming FIFA Under-20 World Cup campaign has been the contributions of Harry Kane.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker set up both of his team's goals in their opening Group E game, a 2-2 draw with Iraq. Against Chile three days later, he scored a vital equalizer to make it 1-1, keeping alive England's hopes of qualifying for the second stage.

Peter Taylor's side face Egypt on Saturday, and as Kane told FIFA.com, he and his teammates want to stay on in a tournament he described as a being "fantastic learning experience for us all."

Kane will be well aware of the painful, often bitter self-analysis the English game has been undergoing back home. Less-than-stellar recent performances on the international scene have yet again led to seemingly everyone and their dog sharing their views on how the country can improve its footballing fortunes.

Out in Turkey, Kane will at least be enjoying his status as a starter. As soon as his tournament concludes, the 19-year-old is back to facing a battle for first-team opportunities at Tottenham.

In a similar situation is his fellow striker, Jon Obika.

At 22, he has less time on his side to convince Andre Villas-Boas of his ability to make an impact upfront. While the younger Kane was awarded a new four-year contract back in February, Obika was only given an extension until 2014.

For the teenage Kane, the show of faith was not too surprising for a player of his potential and relative youth. The acknowledgement of Obika's fine work for Spurs' under-21 side last season was less expected, but well deserved.

After being loaned to five different Football League clubs (including several spells at Yeovil Town), Obika would have been forgiven for thinking his efforts might not pay off in North London.

Villas-Boas obviously sees something in the much-traveled forward, though. Obika responded to his new contract with a solid loan spell at Charlton Athletic, scoring three times as he helped the Addicks to a respectable ninth-place finish.

It has been a while since a striker from the Tottenham youth system has made the jump to being a regular contributor to the first team.

Mark Falco was the last genuine success. The Londoner recorded almost 100 goals after his debut in 1979 and left in 1986 having won a UEFA Cup medal two years earlier.

A couple, like John Hendry and Rory Allen, briefly shone. Others such as Paul McVeigh, Lee Barnard and Andy Barcham have gone on to enjoy respectable careers elsewhere.

On Kane and Obika's side is the uncertainty surrounding Spurs' strikeforce right now.

Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor were the club's only recognized, senior strikers going into last season. A mixed year ensued for both, leaving the team to be bailed out by the superb goalscoring form of Gareth Bale.

Villas-Boas experimented using the Welshman further forward. Regardless of whether Bale is used as an actual striker, it has been widely agreed upon by all who watched Spurs that the scoring burden cannot rest chiefly on him any longer.

So began what has been a summer of speculation relating to a search for a forward (or two) that can guarantee goals beyond Bale, and the whims of Defoe and Adebayor.

Daunting as the prospect of competing with these established names is—or someone like David Villa, who continues to be linked with a move in media outlets like the Daily Mail and Goal.com—there might not be a better time for Kane and/or Obika to make an impression.

After scoring nine times on loan at Millwall two seasons ago (as well as scoring his first for Spurs), Kane endured a tough 2012-13. Injury ruined his chance on loan at Premier League Norwich City, though he managed a couple of goals later on at Leicester City.

He has undoubtedly progressed from the player first introduced to most Spurs fans during their 2011-12 Europa League campaign. That much has been clear at the Under-20 World Cup where, although only competing against similarly youthful competition, Kane's performances have impressed

Though he is not someone likely to come up with something out of nothing too often, he combines very well with others. Along with a good eye for goal (as his fine strike versus Chile showed), it is a big reason why he is such a promising prospect.

His height (6'2") makes him a natural target, while his instincts—when and where to make a run, judging a teammate's position—especially mark him out as someone who could carry the responsibility of being a lone striker in a system deployed by Villas-Boas that often demands one.

The nippier Obika is a lively presence in and around the penalty box, one who knows how to find the back of the net with a range of finishing. At 6'0", he can handle himself against more physical opposition, too.

Yet, despite being older, he has had less experience than Kane at the higher levels.

For all their existing qualities, both need chances in the Premier League to prove if they are up to making livings as top-flight strikers. For Obika, it is imperative he gets them sooner as he seeks to improve sufficiently to stick around at White Hart Lane beyond next summer.

Kane could still feasibly spend another year on loan. However he might be kept around if he is judged to be ready to make a contribution, rather than head elsewhere for more experience.

Spurs' plans for both will become more apparent during preseason. How involved they are thereafter may depend on what the two show ahead of the new campaign.

Truthfully, it is hard to see a situation in which both are involved—at least this season. Depending on who is brought in, and who possibly departs, one of them could get the opportunity to become Villas-Boas' third- or fourth-choice forward (not including Bale).

Either way, we are getting close to the point of finding out whether Kane and Obika are destined to be more than brief entries in the Tottenham Hotspur history book.