DELE ALLI’S new lease of life under boss Jose Mourinho can benefit England, says Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions boss is delighted Tottenham’s new manager is playing the midfielder in the No 10 position.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate believes Dele Alli returning to his best would be a huge boost at Euro 2020Credit: AP:Associated Press
Dele has not featured in England’s last three international squads.
However, the 2016 and 2017 PFA Young Player of the Year scored twice in Spurs’ 3-2 win over Bournemouth on Saturday — having also been on target in Tuesday’s 4-2 Champions League win against Olympiakos.
Southgate, speaking at the Euro 2020 finals draw in Romania, said: “Jose has played him as a No 10 and that’s his best position, as he has the freedom to run on into the box.
“That has been very clear for a long time. So it’s great he’s back on the scoring trail.
‘A LOT CAN HAPPEN’
“We have brilliant competition for places in those attacking areas.
“We haven’t struggled for goals in qualifying so that’s not been a problem.
“But a lot can happen in that period of time in terms of form and injury, and not a lot of it that we can control.
“At the moment, players like Dele are fighting to get into Tottenham’s team and pleasing their manager there.
“So if the consequence of that is that they are in form for us then for sure that will be in the players’ minds, but at this stage of the season they are thinking about their clubs.”
Dele, 23, has 37 England caps but he has missed the last six internationals due to a loss of form.
His previous England performance was against Switzerland in the Uefa Nations League’s third-place play-off in June.
He has only scored three times for the Three Lions and his previous strike was in the 2-0 win over Sweden at the World Cup last year.
José Mourinho hails Dele Alli’s work-rate after Tottenham star continues resurgence with double vs Bournemouth
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
