Kilbane was appearing on the show alongside Danny Murphy to round up the Boxing Day action.

The first game up for analysis was Tottenham's 5-2 win over Southampton where Harry Kane ran riot.

Kane netted a hat-trick to surpass Shearer's very own record to become the most prolific goal scorer in a calendar year in the Premier League.

Kane took his tally for 2017 to 39 and eclipsed Shearer's record of 36 goals, set in 1995 while he was at Blackburn Rovers.

Shearer is normally a regular guest on the show but he was absent - prompting Kilbane to mock the reason why.

Kilbane said: "It's why Al didn't fancy coming in, did he? He didn't fancy it one bit.

"He didn't want to do this analysis on Harry Kane today."

Kilbane then proceeded to do just that and he was full of praise for the striker.

He said: "I just think in general his form has been excellent but if you look at his game, what he brings to it, it's more than just the goals. I think we're just starting to recognise that now.

"When you do start to look at his overall game, as soon as he starts the game he's immediately on the front foot, wanting to close down defenders.

"His movement is excellent, running off the shoulder of defenders. This is what sets him apart from most number nines in the world.

"He can play as a 10 can't he? He can drop deep, he can drop away from the centre-halves and away from defenders.

"Playing on the shoulders of defenders, the second goal is just top class technique of how to free himself up into space.

"He deserves his match ball, eighjt Premier League hat-tricks now. Only Robbie Fowler and that man Shearer have more than him now. That's just incredible."

Former England striker Shearer had earlier tweeted his congratulations to Kane.

He wrote: "You've had a magnificent 2017 @HKane. You deserve to hold the record of most @premierleague goals in a calendar year. Well done and keep up the good work."