Harry Kane, Politics and Freestyling: Tottenham Hotspur's International Break

The final international break of 2016 is complete. For many football fans, the prospect of uninterrupted club football until spring is of great relief.

Amid World Cup qualifiers of varying appeal and sometimes entertaining but largely inconsequential international friendlies, there was plenty for those not interested to latch on to.

That was certainly the case for Tottenham Hotspur fans.

Ahead of the resumption of a November chock-full of London derbies and big Champions League games for manager Mauricio Pochettino and his team, Bleacher Report looks back at their enforced interruption.

Beginning with the aftermath of the north London derby, we take in a surprise contribution to the online freestyling cannon, election responses and a big moment for one youngster.

Harry Kane is Back and Everything is OK

Tottenham supporters were feeling a little more jolly than their Arsenal counterparts following the two clubs' 1-1 draw prior to the break.

The result did not end a winless streak dating back until the beginning of October, but up against an in-form and dangerous Gunners attack, the point and performance was encouraging.

There was particular delight at the scorer of their equaliser being the returning Harry Kane.

Spurs' struggle to finish in preceding games was more complicated than just missing their top scorer of the past two seasons. Issues with their buildup play and a lack of killer instinct in front of goal have not been completely solved yet.

Nevertheless, Spurs would still rather have the England international—an unused substitute in their win over Scotland—around than not after his fifth career goal versus Arsenal.

"It's always important to have your main striker back," Pochettino told the club's official website after.

Excitingly for the White Hart Lane faithful, Kane is hopeful his layoff has left him in better shape for what lies ahead. He told Spurs' website:

"

I had the chance to recover other muscles of the body that have been going non-stop for quite a few years now. 

I did that, I kept myself fit and healthy and did a lot of gym work, which I haven't been able to do because of the amount of games we've been playing so I definitely feel fit and feel sharp.

I'm sure it will put me in good stead for the rest of the season.

"

It was not bragging rights won for Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. Avoiding defeat and keeping touch with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League did ensure they did not have to go hiding during the international fortnight, though.

Former striker Steffen Iversen's 40th birthday seemed as good a reason to roll out another goal against their neighbours. Cue a look back at his strike in Spurs' 2-1 home win 17 years earlier (see above).

Jan Vertonghen vs. Donald Trump

Tottenham fans' delight at having Kane fit again has been slightly tarnished by stories of contract discussions breaking down.

Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas is among those to report neither party viewing it as a concern. The most recent of a succession of contracts signed by the 23-year-old secured his future until 2020, and so long as Spurs remain as competitive as they have under Pochettino, fans should have nothing to worry about—a figure as beloved as Kane may find reason beyond that to stay anyway.

Still, after a disconcerting week in world events, a brief glimpse without context at a headline citing uncertainty over his future may have been the final straw for some Spurs supporters. The year 2016 has been abject enough without it taking Kane away from them, too.

The striker's team-mate Jan Vertonghen will have been one such worrier. He was among the many of us already reeling from America's catastrophic election of a reality TV host.

We here in England are not immune to self-destructive, ill-informed political choices—the ramifications of the waste of time and money that was the European Union referendum are already being felt. Yet Vertonghen pretty well encapsulated most sane people's disbelief at the next leader of the free world being Donald Trump.

Given how little footballers and sportspeople have to say about matters outside their immediate realm, it was refreshing to see one speak out. That such an unqualified and damaging human could be elected to as important a role as U.S. president was worthy of a disgusted response like Vertonghen's, one much better than say former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan's ignorant downplaying of it.

Then again, Pochettino restricting his players from public political comment may be a good idea after what happened to Vertonghen the night after the election.

Playing in Belgium's friendly with the Netherlands, Vertonghen conceded a penalty after pulling Jeremain Lens' shirt. Davy Klaassen duly converted, but the defender was spared by Yannick Carrasco's equaliser.

If Vertonghen was that distracted just by Trump getting elected, who knows where his mind will be once he is in power.

It brought to mind legendary Tottenham manager Bill Nicholson's preference for—to put it frankly—simple-minded players.

In his famous account of the 1971-72 season The Glory Game, author Hunter Davies was recounting Nicholson's coaching education, including a stint teaching the Cambridge University football team.

The former Spurs boss said:

"

It was good working with intelligent lads. They got the hang of things quickly, but intelligence doesn't make you a good footballer. Oxford and Cambridge would have the best sides if that were true. It's a football brain that matters and that doesn't usually go with an academic brain. In fact I prefer it when it doesn't. I prefer players not to be too good or clever at other things. It means they concentrate on football.

"

Nicholson was seemingly not one for the revolutionary spirit of the 1960s and early 1970s. Given his predecessor's success, Pochettino may follow his lead.

With the attempt of one journalist to ask the Argentinian in his pre-Arsenal press conference about Trump batted down by Spurs' press officer, it is unlikely we will be seeing much more on politics from this part of north London anytime soon.

Pochettino's Unbelieveable Tekkers

Pochettino may have the perfect tool to keep his players' minds on football and out of the real world.

Probably filmed before the recent interruption to the season but posted during it, the Tottenham boss recently partook in a "tekkers test" with football freestylers Jeremy Lynch and Billy Wingrove, also known as The F2 (see video above)—the latter was formerly employed by Spurs.

Promoting a new management simulator, the former Argentina international looked in his element back with a ball at his feet.

Moving between passing, control and various shooting exercises, the 44-year-old showed class is permanent. More than holding his own against the F2 boys in the skill department, his finishing showed that his Spurs team could still learn a thing or two from the former defender about finding the back of the net.

Perhaps he learned a few ideas off Diego Maradona. During the break, he spoke to Tottenham's official website about his time playing with the icon during his brief stint at Newell's Old Boys.

Pochettino's training sessions are notoriously gruelling, preparing his players for the demands of a high-intensity style. Perhaps adding a few freestyle competitions will do the trick in sharpening their technique and not thinking about outside distractions.

Ironically, Pochettino was not too pleased with the reaction to Erik Lamela showing his own skills, nutmegging former-Spur Andros Townsend in a 1-0 win over Crystal Place in August (video above).

"It does not create any emotion in myself," he said after, citing his preference to celebrate goals and wins, not showboating. "[It] was only an action, but I understand that it's about football and the supporters sometimes like this type of action."

Pochettino was not critical of Lamela's choice, praising it as a feature of his individual style rather than a conscious effort to humiliate. Perhaps, though, after his own experience enjoying football's more expressive side, he will allow a little more leeway in this department.

Duncan's Time to Shine

One young man who definitely enjoyed the international break was Tottenham's academy midfielder Dylan Duncan.

With the England national team limbering up at the club's Hotspur Way training ground, the 17-year-old was chosen to help make up the numbers (below).

Shayon Harrison and Harry Winks had the same opportunity last year and certainly relished it.

"I'd love to follow in their footsteps one day," Winks told Tottenham's official website at the time. "It was a fantastic experience, a great learning curve and it's still sinking in really," Harrison added.

Both have furthered their prospects at Tottenham since, perhaps boosted by the experience. Duncan is a little way behind in his own development, but he may too be inspired to push on after testing himself against international-calibre players.

And with that, we are back to the Premier League season.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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