Nicholas says only reputation is keeping Dele Alli in Tottenham team

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Tottenham Hotspur will face Juventus in the Champions League last-16 this season.

Former Arsenal forward Charlie Nicholas has written on Skysports.com that only reputation is keeping Dele Alli in the Tottenham Hotspur team.

Nicholas, though, has suggested that the England international midfielder will step up his game against Juventus.

Spurs will face Italian and European giants Juventus in the last-16 stage of the Champions League this season.

Nicholas is unable to call who will go through, but the former Arsenal forward has said that the return of Toby Alderweireld will help Spurs.

The Belgium international central defender has struggled with injuries in recent weeks, but the 28-year-old should be fit for the two-legged tie against Juventus.

“Tottenham were looking at Juventus and Bayern Munich as the sides to avoid and this is a tie which belongs at Wembley,” Nicholas wrote on Skysports.com.

“Juve are not quite the side which has made the final in two of the last three season as they have lost Leonardo Bonucci and a lot of their other players are getting towards the twilight of their careers.

“But Spurs have their issues and only Dele Alli’s reputation is keeping him in the team at the moment, although there is time for him to improve as it is only a consistency thing that comes with his age. You saw how he lifted his game against Real Madrid and this type of game will suit him.

“However, this Juve defence is a brutal challenge and they will not be suckered by counter-punches, so it is a fascinating tie. Spurs have slightly more quality and technical ability and Toby Alderweireld’s return will be a big difference but, with it being at Wembley rather than the Lane, I can’t split them and make this another 50/50.”

A footnote added: “CHARLIE’S VERDICT: Too close to call.”

Juventus have a very strong team, and given their experience in Europe and recent success in the Champions League, the Serie A outfit will fancy their chances of winning against Tottenham.

However, if all the key players are fit, then Spurs could well narrowly get past Juventus and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.