Harry Kane could claim an even greater prize than trophies if he stays at Tottenham

Everyone in the room seemed to regard modern football as the poorer for it and just about everyone also nodded when another panellist expressed hope that Kane continues to deliver the absolute peak years of his career in a Tottenham shirt.

It was a struggle, though, to then think of comparable examples in the modern Premier League. John Terry, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Frank Lampard certainly came into the debate but the most meaningful one-club legends are surely those who knowingly pass up greater riches or the likelihood of more success elsewhere.

Le Tissier did just that although is honest about how his decisions were sometimes as much practical as purely romantic.

The closest recent comparison for Kane is surely Steven Gerrard. Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea all wanted him and, however much this might pain Liverpool fans to read, the blunt truth was that he effectively sacrificed medals to remain loyal to his boyhood club.

This is not to condemn the decision - it can be argued that his relationship with Liverpool represents something far more meaningful - but simply to point out the consequences.

Le Tissier also genuinely has no regrets and you need spend only a few minutes with him in Southampton to understand the depth of the local reverence. He believes firmly that careers are measured in memories and moments as well as medals.

Which brings us back to Kane. Tottenham will surely try to convince their striker that he can have it both ways. That he can fulfil his on-field dreams and be paid a handsome wage at the same time as building fan and community relationships that will endure for generations.

The reality is of course likely to be more complicated. Kane’s form currently puts him in very elite company within the main European leagues. Lionel Messi has the best ratio with 34 goals in 26 league matches but next – and before players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Edinson Cavani and Romelu Lukaku - are both Kane and Robert Lewandowski on 25 league goals in 23 games.

Kane’s age, record and physical strength in the lone striker’s positions has made an enormous offer from one of Europe’s aristocracy almost inevitable in the coming years. Then it will largely be over to Kane.

History tells us that most players do get restless but the prize that might accompany staying should not be easily overlooked. 

The presence of a true great like Sir Bobby is taken for granted

All eyes outside St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon were on the stadium entrance at which Manchester United’s team bus was waiting. Whoops of excitement greeted the emergence of just about every player but the image that will linger longest in the memory was the sight of a man who will next month reach the landmark of his 80^th birthday.

As Sir Bobby Charlton quietly made his way into a waiting car, it felt strange to have this very modern scene of camera phones clicking away in excitement at even the most modest player being briefly interrupted by a figure of such iconic significance. Phil Jones had emerged at about the same time and, as Charlton departed relatively unnoticed, it felt tempting to give some of those younger fans a brief history lesson.

Charlton’s landmark birthday will no doubt prompt fresh appraisal of his life and contribution to British football but the salient facts are simple enough. The only other player from these isles to have won both the World Cup and European Cup is Nobby Stiles, his former Manchester United team-mate. Stiles is now very ill in a nursing home amid a 16-year battle with dementia from which football largely looks away.

Charlton happily remains able to still attend just about every Manchester United game in person, yet the collective frailty among the heroes of 1966 was sadly very evident last year on their 50th anniversary. A similar picture will emerge next year when we reach the same milestone for United’s 1968 European triumph. Charlton stands among the elite giants of British sport of any era and his ongoing presence at stadiums across the country should be savoured.

Moment of the weekend

It felt like more than just two more points were at stake for Liverpool when Simon Mignolet faced down Jamie Vardy. He had seen how Vardy had struck his previous two penalties with power, just to the goalkeeper’s right, and his preparation was rewarded as he stood firm to block almost an identical effort. Having led 2-0 and 3-1 – and being inspired again by Philippe Coutinho - the psychological impact of that save was potentially vast.

Good weekend

It has been natural so far this season to see Alvaro Morata through the prism of Diego Costa but the simple truth is that there was no available striker who could replace what he gave to Chelsea.

Rather like Didier Drogba before, Costa was almost two forwards rolled into one: the physically imposing battering ram who could hold the ball up and a poacher who was also likely to get you 20 goals a season. Chelsea’s job was simply to find the best available alternative and Morata’s hat-trick underlined his own qualities.

Bad weekend

Impossible to look beyond Crystal Palace, whose return now of no goals and no points in six matches is threatening records that stretch well beyond even the start of the Premier League. The irony was that there were some positive signs before Manchester City’s first goal. Roy Hodgson is renowned for his work on the training ground – and that will eventually help – but this current situation most urgently demands man-management and an injection of confidence.