Tottenham great Glenn Hoddle has a clear message for an underperforming Dele Alli: pull your finger out!
Alli has battled for form this season, finding himself restricted to Europa League action as manager Jose Mourinho has turned to other options for his midfield in the Premier League. And thus far, Mourinho's choices are being proved right with Tottenham top of the table on goal difference from second place Liverpool.
For many inside the English game, the dramatic slide of Alli is a concern. But Hoddle insists playing Europa League football is a good enough platform for the England international to prove his worth and play his way back into Mourinho's Premier League XI.
Speaking on his podcast, 'The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show', Hoddle said: "Dele All has been playing in the Europa League so far and that's Tottenham this season, they're going for four trophies and they're going to need players to be rested.
"So Dele Alli still has a lot to play for."
Hoddle, who enjoyed success in France with AS Monaco as a player, is aware of talk of PSG being interested in Alli. And while he can see such a move potentially happening, the former England coach warns Alli must begin playing far better than he currently is if he's to land such a transfer.
He continued: "That might suit him. He might think he wants to play abroad. But let's be brutally honest, he's not playing well enough.
"A team looking at Dele Alli three seasons ago would say 'yeah, we'd take him tomorrow'. But he's got to get his finger out and start playing well. Whether it's ten minutes as a sub, or when starting in the Europa League, he needs to improve his performance."
Hoddle says the current slump Alli is enduring is now a real test to see whether he can shake it and return to his best.
He added: "This is a real test for the lad. We all go through it as a player, you need to come out the other side a better player and better person for it. Let's hope he can do that.
"But at the moment, I don't see him being top of the shopping list for too many clubs."
Listen to this week's full episode of 'The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show' - a Tribal Football partner - below:
Click here to visit the full archive of 'The Glenn Hoddle Footy Show'.
