Spurs Dele Alli learning the lessons to lead him to stardom

By Will Unwin

Dele Alli’s short Premier League career has seen him light up White Hart Lane following his move from Milton Keynes Dons thanks to the young midfielder’s dynamic nature.

Manchester City’s visit on Saturday was one of Alli’s first serious tests as a Premier League player, coming up against the likes of Yaya Toure and Fernandinho.

Alongside Alli in midfield was another young Englishman in the form of Eric Dier, normally a defender but recently thrust further up the pitch to provide sturdier protection for backline. It’s fair to say the two lack experience in their roles on Saturday, especially at this level.

The England Under-21 international has great skill and speed, allowing him to settle into this higher level with ease.

Alli, who has one goal to his name this season, spent a lot of time sitting deep in close proximity to Dier, but with more licence to link up with Christian Eriksen who was operating ahead of him.

The physical nature of Yaya Toure was a tough learning curve for the former MK Dons player, as he struggled to cope everything the Ivorian has in his locker. Alli seemed to be a split second late to everything in the opening half hour.

When the ball is at his feet, Alli is very much at his happiest and he was given far more time in possession to express himself after the break when City seemed to react badly to conceding just before half-time.

City fell apart in the second half, which coincided with Yaya Toure succumbing to an ailment, allowing Alli to ease through the limp midfield on show for the visitors. When he wasn’t getting the ball into Eriken, he was playing it into Lamela and Kane who were reaping the rewards of City being truly awful.

Dier did the dirty work, snapping at the heels of all those who threaten the Tottenham back four, as Alli mopped up the second balls to instigate attacks and aid quick transitions up the pitch.

Mauricio Pochettino was full of praise for his youthful side after the 4-1 victory over City, he said: "We have big potential, we are very young. I think that today was the (our) youngest team and this is important.”

England manager Roy Hodgson was in attendance at White Hart Lane and will have been impressed by maturity shown by the Spurs youngster.

Alli’s ability to adapt to playing against the more experienced Yaya Toure was evident after the early stages and he thrived once the Ivorian had departed the scene during the second-half.

In the future Alli will learn how to impose himself on his own terms rather than having to wait for his entire team-mates to be on top, as was the case against City.

Pochettino has warned Hodgson over thrusting his prodigy into the England squad too soon, saying: “You can see he's a player that is very mature and shows great quality but always in football it's step by step and we need to be careful.

“He will mature. He has personality and good character. But it is too much of a rush to talk about bigger steps for him.”

He will certainly mature and grow in stature thanks lessons learned against the likes of Yaya Toure which will stand Alli in good stead for both Spurs and England.

There is plenty more to come from Alli and it will come in time, with some highs and lows in between, but the midfielder has the knowledge and understanding of what he needs to to do reach the heights he's destined for.