Gareth Southgate has hinted Dele Alli is playing well enough for Tottenham to earn a recall to the England set-up after missing out on a place in the last squad.
Alli has been transformed since Jose Mourinho’s arrival at Spurs, scoring three goals in his last two appearances and flourishing in the creative role behind – and sometimes alongside – Harry Kane.
The 23-year-old scored two brilliantly taken goals against Bournemouth on Saturday and played his part in Moussa Sissoko’s third, which turned out to be crucial in the 3-2 victory.
And Gareth Southgate, who ignored the chance to recall Alli last month despite a slight pick-up in form under Mauricio Pochettino, has suggested the attacking midfielder is now playing in his best position again, which could give the England boss a selection headache ahead of Euro 2020.
“Jose has played him as a No 10 and that’s his best position, having the freedom to run on into the box. That has been very clear for a long time,” Southgate said (via Sky Sports). “So it’s great he’s back on the scoring trail.”
On Spurs’ England contingent, he added: “At the moment they 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 (getting in the Euro 2020 squad) will be in the players’ minds, but at this stage of the season they are thinking about their clubs.”
If Alli keeps up his current goalscoring run, it would be foolish to leave him out of the Euro 2020 squad. Kane and Raheem Sterling have chipped in with plenty of goals in recent months, but the Three Lions could do with that extra attacking punch Alli provides.
