Everton manager Sean Dyche has discussed the topic of loanee Dele Alli this week.

The former Tottenham attacker has returned to England with a hip injury after a disastrous loan spell at Besiktas.

Dyche, who is fighting to help the club avoid relegation from the Premier League, also acknowledged reports about Alli's off-field lifestyle in the media this week.

He told reporters: "He's not here, he's got an injury which will keep him out for some time so that will have to be dealt with. Some of the stuff that has been reported, he's 26, like most footballers they know certain things that they should be doing, shouldn't be doing.

“At the end of the day, forgetting about Everton Football Club, as a manager you can't control everything they do in their lives.

"There seems to be a myth where they say 'what's the manager doing?' about what, following him round every minute of every day that they live their lives? You can only guide people with what you think is good for them and eventually, players have choices so we recommend they make good choices.

"But behind that, he's injured and come back with a proper injury that will take time to get sorted out so he will use that time wisely I hope.

"I have [spoken to him] I just feel he needs to get his injury right then we'll go from there. It's not going to be a week, it's going to be a number of weeks."