The Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder has vowed to improve.
England’s Dele Alli
Tottenham Hotspur’s England international Dele Alli has been discussing the suspension that brought a premature end to his debut Premier League season earlier this year, in comments appearing on Sky Sports.
The 20-year-old’s sensational performances had played a vital part in the North London club’s impressive assault on the Premier League title, but a clash with West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob saw Alli given a three-game suspension – missing the final three matches of the campaign.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli and manager Mauricio Pochettino attempt to retrieve the ball off Liverpool’s Joel Matip
But fans of the midfielder would be reluctant for him to change his combative style of play too much, even though the player himself admitted he has learned from last season.
“I have made a few mistakes with my temper, I know. But I have learned from that,” Alli is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
“The manager has spoken to me and after what happened to me last year having to miss the last three games, I realise I can’t do those kind of things and need to keep them under control.”
Tottenham’s Dele Alli and West Brom’s Claudio Yacob
Spurs drew, and then lost the other two matches of Alli’s suspension, as their title challenge petered out in the spring, but the ex-MK Dons star has insisted that he is one player who is working hard to develop, as he looks to retain a starting role in the upcoming England match against Slovakia.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the finished article, I still have a lot to learn and can keep improving,” Alli said. “There are still a few more things I can work on in the short-term and definitely in the long term. I’m just going to keep working hard on and off the training field.”
Alli scored 10 Premier League goals last season for Spurs after moving from his boyhood club in Milton Keynes, but he struggled, as did the majority of the England team, to bring his club form to international duty.
England’s Dele Alli during training
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