Dele Alli has struggled badly for Tottenham in recent seasons and has found Premier League minutes hard to come by after being hauled off against Arsenal in September.
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Antonio Conte says he is ‘not scared’
Former Tottenham icon Ledley King has issued a challenge to new boss Antonio Conte – unlock the talents of struggling Dele Alli.
Dele started the season as a member of Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting line-up, but was hauled off at half-time in the humiliating defeat to Arsenal and has found it difficult to recover his form.
He has been limited to just two substitute appearances in the Premier League since then, as well as three starts in the Europa Conference League.
But that competition has been a disaster for Spurs so far, with Dele featuring in embarrassing defeats to both Vitesse Arnhem and NS Mura.
Those losses have put Conte’s side at serious risk of being dumped out of the Conference League before the knockout stages, with Spurs now requiring a win over Rennes to secure their progression.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Can Antonio Conte save Dele Alli’s Tottenham career? Comment below.
Conte made his frustrations with his underperforming squad clear following the humiliation at the hands of Slovenian minnows Mura.
Dele was one Spurs star who came in for particular criticism after the loss, with Conte replacing him after 54 minutes.
The midfielder looks a far cry from the player who was a first-choice member of England’s starting line-up in their run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
It remains to be seen how long Conte will persist with the 25-year-old before looking to move him on from the Premier League club.
And former Spurs star King believes that Dele must grasp the chance he has been handed to impress Conte with both hands.
“It’s still up to Dele. Again, a new manager has come in so he gets a fresh start and a new opportunity to go and impress,” King, speaking on behalf of signathon.live, said.
“Dele has such a gift that is to score goals, a type of number ten player. His timing and his finishing is something that is rare.
“You don’t see many players that have that from the deeper areas. So, Dele just has to work hard, work as hard as possible and then find that grit and determination and what he does best.”
King has also set the challenge for Conte of getting the best out of Dele, with the former defender believing that the Italian’s vast experience can help him to succeed where other failed.
“I keep saying this, but the manager is so experienced,” King, who won the League Cup with Spurs in 2008, added.
“He has been there and done it so he will be looking at how to get the best out of Dele. He will be making sure he is doing exactly what he wants him to do.
“It won’t be a case of Dele playing the way he wants to, it will be the way the manager wants him to and if he does that then of course he has a future.”
Dele’s next chance to impress could come on Sunday when Spurs visit Burnley, though whether Conte will trust him to play at Turf Moor remains to be seen.
Signathon hosted a live virtual event for fans with Spurs legend and former captain, Ledley King. Ledley also signed limited edition merchandise, which is available to buy now online at www.signathon.live
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