Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been crowned as the PFA Young Player of the Year after an outstanding breakthrough season in the Premier League.
Voting for the award, given to players under the age of 23 at the start of the season, saw Chelsea's Eden Hazard -- who won the main award -- finish second and Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho third. Also on the shortlist were Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois and Liverpool's Raheem Sterling.
Kane -- the only English attacking player in the Premier League team of the season -- has enjoyed a remarkable rise to stardom, scoring 30 goals for Spurs in all competitions this term despite not being given a regular starting slot until November.
He helped Mauricio Pochettino's men to the Capital One Cup final, and also scored 79 seconds into his senior England debut as a substitute in the 4-0 European Championship qualifying victory over Lithuania at Wembley last month.
Kane came through the White Hart Lane club's youth ranks and was farmed out for loan stints at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester to gain first-team experience.
He struck a free-kick winner from the bench at Aston Villa in early November and was then given a run of games by Mauricio Pochettino, with fellow frontmen Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor failing to deliver. And he has not looked back since.
"It is amazing. It is a very proud moment for myself and my family -- hopefully the first of many to come,'' Kane said of his award. "I have got to keep working hard, but to be recognised by your fellow players is something special and it is a night I wont forget.
"It is incredible, an incredible feeling.''
Asked to sum up his season in one word, Kane went for: "Unreal.''
He added: "I have always believed in my ability and have been waiting for a chance to express myself. I didn't think it would go as quickly as it has done but I have managed to ride the wave and the season has got better and better.
"I got the opportunity with the gaffer and I have really enjoyed my season so far -- I have taken my chance and this is why we are here.''
Asked for his favourite moment, Kane said: "Making my England debut and getting that goal -- it was a very proud moment. It made it even more special. For a footballer, to represent their country is the pinnacle, and I'm very proud I was able to do that and it was a moment I won't forget.''
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino tipped the Chingford-born forward for even bigger things after he scored in the recent 3-1 win at Newcastle, to become the first Spurs player since Gary Lineker in 1992 to reach 30 club goals in a season.
''He has big potential," Pochettino said. ''He is young and this is his first full season in the first team. We need to push him to try to improve his level because he has the potential to improve.
''He's happy in the changing room and all his team-mates are happy, and I think all our supporters and the club are happy at his achievement.''
Kane captained the North London outfit for the first time in a goalless draw at Burnley earlier this month.