The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder played 57 matches for club and country last season.
England’s Dele Alli during training
Dele Alli is the only one of Tottenham Hotspur’s European Championships contingent to be dropped for Sam Alladyce’s starting side against Slovakia this weekend, but rather than it being something to panic about, it may end up being a blessing for the Spurs star, and his club side.
After a hugely impressive debut campaign with the North Londoners, when he featured far more than he surely would have expected last summer, Alli took on even more football over the summer as part of England’s squad in France. He played 45 club matches for Spurs last season – only Eric Dier and Harry Kane played more – and also played 12 England matches.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli and manager Mauricio Pochettino attempt to retrieve the ball off Liverpool’s Joel Matip
In the opening stages of the league this season, things haven’t quite come off for Alli, and he will start the game against Slovakia on the bench.
Though it would be tempting to float the idea that the former MK Dons star could be struggling to get to grips with his second season in the top flight, it is worth remembering that Alli is still just 20-years-old and of course, the campaign is only three matches old.
The midfielder hasn’t been at his best by any stretch, especially when compared to his performances last season, but the likes of Alli, and indeed Harry Kane, are likely to be rustier considering their later holiday and later return to pre-season training.
England manager Sam Allardyce during training
Mauricio Pochettino, and one would hope, Sam Alladyce, will be acutely aware of the talent Alli possesses, and would be under no obligation to field him from the beginning of matches if they thought he would benefit more from resting or featuring from the bench.
With Rooney coming in in the central attacking midfield role for England, and Spurs buying Moussa Sissoko, there is scope for Alli to be given time to work hard in training and not necessarily used as a starting player 100% of the time, saving him for the many big matches the club have lined up this year.
England’s Dele Alli during training
Figures within the game have previously warned of overplaying young talents early in their career, and with Pochettino certainly eager to minimise the likelihood of his players getting injured on international duty, Alli taking a slight backseat role for England will be something he could well approve of.
And if Alli disagrees, and wants that England jersey back as soon as possible, he may well be driven to play out of his skin to do so at his club.
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