Tottenham hero Ledley King has commented on Dele Alli’s displays this season.
Tottenham Hotspur hero Ledley King has told BBC Radio Five Live that he knew the second season would be more difficult for Spurs midfielder Dele Alli.
Alli, 20, burst onto the scene in his first Premier League campaign last season, grabbing ten goals and nine assists to make himself an instant hero at White Hart Lane.
The former Milton Keynes Dons ace was handed a spot in England’s Euro 2016 squad as a result, and after struggling to make an impact at the tournament, many were hoping to see a response in the Premier League.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli in action with Manchester United’s Michael Carrick
However, the midfielder has blown hot and cold so far. Three goals and one assist in 15 Premier League appearances isn’t a terrible record, but nor is it quite as impressive as his numbers from last season.
Add in that Alli has received huge criticism for his blatant dive against Swansea City earlier this month – which won Spurs a penalty and set them on their way to a 5-0 win – and some of the shine has come off the Tottenham star.
Ledley King poses with the Capital One Cup
Some fans have even suggested that Alli should be given some time out of the Spurs side having played almost non-stop in 2016, but he’s expected to be a part of Tottenham’s line-up to face Burnley today.
Ahead of that game, Tottenham hero Ledley King has spoken to BBC Radio Five Live about Alli’s performances, suggesting that defenders now know exactly who he is and what his strengths are, making him a little easier to defender against than he was last season, when he was an unknown quantity.
King added that he isn’t surprised that this season has been more difficult for Alli, but called on him to add more facets to his game, and thinks he’ll still be a big player for Tottenham both this season and in the future.
“Last season, he was a little bit of the unknown,” said King. “I think that this season was always going to be more difficult. People understand his game and his strengths a little bit more now, and as a young player, you’ve always got to find ways of improving and bringing new things to your game. It’s no surprise to me that it’s a little bit more difficult this season, but he’s still a top, top player, and he’s still going to have an impact on the team, this season and moving forward,”
What have you thought of Alli’s performances this season?
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