Alli: Another exciting youngster emerges

Right they were, as Tottenham FC finally signed the young midfield maestro before the expiration of the 2015 January transfer window for £5 million plus performance add-ons which could see monies paid to Dons rise to over £10 million in years to come.Another tussle is said to be on the horizon between Nigeria and England […]

Right they were, as Tottenham FC finally signed the young midfield maestro before the expiration of the 2015 January transfer window for £5 million plus performance add-ons which could see monies paid to Dons rise to over £10 million in years to come.
Another tussle is said to be on the horizon between Nigeria and England for the teenager who has already garnered 15 appearances at youth level for the Three Lions, playing for the Under 17’s, Under 18’s and Under 19’s.
However, his future with England isn’t assured just yet. Having not played for the senior side yet, he is still able to switch his international allegiance.
Nigerian born Former England and Wimbledon striker John Fashanu is reportedly looking to tempt Alli into playing for Nigeria “I will be speaking to some people at MK Dons to help patch me through to Alli. We can’t afford to lose such a talented kid to England, it’s better we put up a fight than to let him go. I will do my best to persuade him to switch allegiance. I sincerely believe in years to come he will be a top prospect and Nigeria, from what I will tell him, will be his best bet at being a global international star,” Fashanu said
Born in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Alli joined the youth system at Milton Keynes Dons when he was 11 years old, made his debut for the first team as a sixteen-year-old on 2 November 2012( in a 0–0 draw with Cambridge City in the FA Cup)
Last season was memorable for the player as it saw him break into the MK Dons first team on a regular basis. In his first Football League Trophy appearance, Alli scored to help MK Dons beat Northampton 2–0 and thus progress to the second round of the trophy. On 28 September 2014, Alli scored his first professional league goal in the 4–1 thrashing of Stevenage.[
After being in and out of the first team picture in late 2013 due to injury setbacks, the player would go on and establish himself as a first-choice player in 2014. On 11 March 2014, against Notts County at Meadow Lane, aged just 17 years and 11 months, Alli scored a hat-trick to guide the ‘Dons to a 3–1 victory.
Among Alli’s best moments so far, he struck a thunderous volley from 25 yards out as MK Dons defeated Coventry, 2–1.Comparisons have already been made between the immensely gifted player who has scored 12 goals from midfield this season, and legendary Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
Martin, son of former West Ham and England legend Alvin, is in a unique position to judge having spent four years at Liverpool training alongside Gerrard and behind Alli for the last couple of seasons in League One, including a famous 4-0 Capital One Cup victory against Manchester United in August.
“Del (Alli) has probably got everything you need; height, strength, power and a football brain,” said Martin.
“I’ve seen him head a corner away from our 18-yard box and finish up in the opposition penalty area scoring a goal, at 18 he’s already become one of our main men in the team, and we all know it.
“I remember his first game at 16, he bopped one in the top corner and I wondered if it was a fluke. But the way he’s been this season, controlling games and controlling other midfield players who might be in their thirties, has been amazing.
“He just doesn’t show any fear. You can’t say at this stage he will do everything Stevie has achieved but I will be surprised if he doesn’t play for England. And he has a similar personality to Stevie, besides the football.
“Del is quiet in the dressing-room but if the banter is flying about, he can cut you with a quick one-liner. He has something about him. Calm, cocky and cool! His teammate said.
A different comparison was also made with Wayne Rooney, who burst onto the scene shortly before his 17th birthday but was regarded as a man-child because of his physical strength and mentality at a young age.
Alli, the Sky Bet League One Player of the Month for January, has already played 76 first-team games despite not turning 19 until April. He happily plays cards with the older players on away trips and isn’t shy on controlling the music on the dressing-room iPod. R&B artist Chris Brown is a personal favourite.
It’s his performances in the big games that mark him out as something potentially special.
“In our home game against Swindon, we were losing 1-0 until Del whipped in an equaliser and we ended up winning. He has dug us out so many times, I’ve seen a lot of young players hit the ground running and then hit a brick wall. But Del is happy to take responsibility,’ said Martin.
“I think we all look around before kickoff, see Del in the middle and think we’ll be alright. Even against Manchester United, he looked so comfortable in that company. And doing a pre-season with Spurs will make him even better with better players around him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he is in their team this time next year.’
Many believe it is immensely important for Nigeria to attempt getting its grips on this talented youngster before he makes up his mind to appear for the senior three lions and add to the list of gifted Nigerian born players that the country has missed out on.