The make or break season for Dele Alli is finally here

BY FRANKIE CHRISTOU - @FrankieChristou

With 83 English players starting the Premier League season last weekend, the upcoming campaign could give England manager Gareth Southgate a headache. A breadth of English talent is set to swarm the Premier League as a looming Brexit and the homegrown rule is submitting teams into giving youth a chance.

The future of the Premier League is as exciting as it is currently entertaining, however, that enthusiasm holds subjective limitations as the reality of the current climate will leave some players worrying for their futures. 

One of them is Dele Alli. 

Dele Alli was a breath of fresh air when he announced himself on the world stage in his second season for Spurs back in 2016. With the help of golden boot winner Harry Kane, Dele managed to score 18 goals and assisted a further 7 to help Tottenham finish second in the league for the first time since 1963.  

He has since continued to break records. Dele has had a hand in a total 71 Premier League goals in 131 appearances, scored on his debut for England and represented his country at the Euros and World Cup. 

That is without mentioning, he has also participated in a Champions League final – something that even England’s current poster-boy Raheem Sterling is yet to achieve. 

It is surprising to think after all of that he is still only 23 years old.

However, the former MK Dons player is probably anxious heading into the new season and he has every right to be. 

Despite the heroics of 2016, Dele's numbers have slowly stagnated season after season, with him registering only five goals, and three assists last campaign.  

It was a poor showing from someone who stole the headlines as a 19-year-old and ushered Wayne Rooney out of his preferred position in the Euros but, Dele told the Telegraph that last season was a learning curve for him. 

Accessing his own season, the 23-year-old said: “I haven’t scored as many goals or got as many assists, but other parts of my game and the other side of my game, defensively, in possession, not just getting on the end of things and finishing chances, I think I’ve improved on that. So next season, hopefully, it will all come together and I’ll get the goals, assists and keep the other parts of my game in the build-up play.”

The fact that Alli acknowledges his dip in form over the past two season’s suggests he knows that this season will be make or break for him at Tottenham, and also internationally. 

Tottenham’s lack of depth last season witnessed Alli be deployed in a traditional central midfield role, which as he stated has allowed him to polish the defensive side of his game, meaning naturally Alli’s attacking statistics from last season should not be compared with past seasons. 

However, Tottenham have added some well-needed quality in the centre of the park as the signing of Tanguy Ndombele liberates Dele from being held back but also provides him with some competition as Lo Celso will be itching to make a name for himself in that attacking-midfield role after signing from Real Betis for £55m. 

A similar problem awaits Dele at St. Georges Park when he returns to international duty next month as his stagnation has allowed others in the same position to develop. 

The development of Sean Longstaff, Harry Winks, and Ruben Loftus Cheek mean Dele will not be deployed by Southgate as a deep-lying midfielder alongside the likes of Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice.

But, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, James Madison, and Jesse Lingard all started last weekend for their clubs, while Phil Foden is set to be intergraded into Manchester City’s set up and will look to be called up by Gareth Southgate this season.  

The players mentioned all offer something different to Gareth Southgate, but none offer a simular frame and goal-scoring ability that Dele has shown already for Spurs - something which will continue to lean in the 23-year-old's favour if he performs well. 

This season will be a pivotal turning point in Alli’s career. He is going to have to evoke his 19-year-old self and perform this season if he is going to fight off competition at Spurs and England. 

‘Has he peaked too early?’ 

Is the dark cloud of a question that hangs over Dele Alli’s head and this season whether implicitly or explicitly, he will answer it.