Harry Kane admits Tottenham need to make life easier for themselves and get better at closing games out, but he insists the fight for the top four remains “wide open” after Saturday’s 4-3 home win over Leicester.

The 21-year-old striker scored his first Premier League hat-trick in the weekend’s victory, but Spurs survived a scare as they narrowly edged past the basement boys in a seven-goal thriller.

The Lilywhites were 2-0 up after 13 minutes but found themselves level in the second half and, although they then established a 4-2 advantage, the Foxes hit back in the 90th minute to set up a nervy finish.

It was a similar story against Swansea and QPR earlier this month, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side getting two goals clear on both occasions, only to concede and have to hold on to secure 3-2 and 2-1 victories respectively.

“We were 2-0 up [against Leicester] and had chances to put the game to bed and that’s what we’ve been trying to do,” said Kane. “Unfortunately we didn’t and credit to Leicester - they’ve fought back and got back in the game.

“Even at 4-2 that’s when the game should be over, but we conceded another so we’ve got to work on that and get better at that, but at the end of the day it’s three points.

“If you win every game you win every game and that’s the most important thing. We’re playing well as a team, but we have to finish teams off when we go ahead and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do.”

Tottenham remain six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, who triumphed away at Liverpool yesterday, but Louis van Gaal’s side have the toughest run-in out of the top-four hopefuls and still have to play Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Spurs are now just one point behind fifth-placed Liverpool and Kane said: “It’s still wide open, there are still eight more games and we know what we’ve got to do - we’ve got to keep winning games, and this was a big three points against Leicester. We’ve got to push up the league and see what happens.

“Every game in the Premier League is difficult and Burnley away next is a difficult game - as Man City found out last week - and we’ve got Southampton as well so we’ve still got a tough run-in. But we know what we’ve got to do and we’re confident.

“We feel like we can beat anyone and that’s what we’ve got to do if we want to be pushing for the top four. Hopefully we can build on this win and see where it takes us.”

Kane’s first top-flight treble was the latest landmark in a stunning breakthrough season. The forward has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for January and February and was given his first England call-up on Thursday before leaving the Lane with the match ball on Saturday evening.

“It’s my first Premier League hat-trick and we got the three points, which is the most important thing, so it was a good day all-round,” he said. “It’s a special week, one I definitely won’t forget. Hopefully I can keep working hard and keep progressing and have many more weeks like this.

“They were three different types of goals. When you’re feeling confident sometimes the ball just drops to you and it did this time.

“Hopefully I can work hard and try and get myself into the England team, and if I’m on the pitch then I feel confident - just like I do with Spurs - and I’ll just try to put the ball in the back of the net.”

When he scored his 20th goal of the season at West Bromwich Albion on January 31, Kane said he had already set himself another target, but would keep it to himself until he achieved it.

He took his tally to 29 on Saturday and said: “I’m pretty close, I think you probably know what it will be.

“I’m just trying to focus on each game as it comes. We’ve got a break now for the internationals and then we’re back with Tottenham so I’ll just keep trying to do what I’m doing.”

Follow me on Twitter @BenPearceSpurs