Michel Vorm slams Spurs for lacking an 'old school leader' and warns Harry Kane can't fill the void

 Former Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm has criticised Spurs for lacking an 'old school leader' and suggested Harry Kane was not the man to fill that void.

Speaking before Spurs' stalemate draw against Everton at Goodison Park, the Dutchman said he believed Antonio Conte would have to find big personalities in the dressing room if Spurs are to compete with the Premier League elite.

'The situation over the past few years has been very up and down,' Vorm, who played for Spurs 48 times between 2014 and 2020, told BBC 5 Live.

'I don't think Tottenham have a real old school leader in the squad that will say, "Boys, we need to change this around".'

Kane has embodied Tottenham's malaise so far this season. The England captain's desired moved to Manchester City in the summer was thwarted and he's failed to rediscover his form.

The 28-year-old drew another blank at Goodison Park and has scored just once in 11 Premier League, compared to seven at the same stage of last season.

'Harry Kane is struggling for goals, he's focussing on his own performance and so it's hard to be that leader,' Vorm added.

The former Spurs keeper, however, suggested Conte's arrival in place of Nuno Espirito Santo last week was a step in the right direction for the north London club.

'I think Antonio Conte will make sure that the players speak more and are more direct,' he continued.

The Italian's first Premier League game in charge of Spurs ended all square, as his side and Everton shared the spoils.

The hosts had a penalty awarded and then overturned by VAR in the second half, before Spurs substitute Giovani Lo Celso hit the post late on.

The draw left Spurs ninth in the table, six points away from top four but Conte wasn't concerned.

‘I have to be happy for different reasons,’ he said. 'The first that Goodison Park is not an easy place to come to play against Everton especially when you had a week very intensive, I am talking emotionally. For sure we can improve and we have a lot of space for improvement.

‘In different situations, tactically, physically but also the mentality. I’ve seen the heart of my players; the passion, the will to fight, to sacrifice, to understand that there was a moment that was very, very difficult. To see this type of reaction make me more confident for the future.