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TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino insists Dele Alli should be on the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award.

Alli (above) has only been nominated in the Young Player category, which he won last season.

Pochettino reckons the improvement Alli has shown this year means he should be up against team-mate Harry Kane, Chelsea duo Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante, Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku for the big prize.

Hailing the displays which have seen Alli, 21, bag 19 goals for his club, and one for his country, Pochettino said: “He is showing great performances every week, in every game.

“He has improved a lot from last season.

“I think he’s a better player, he’s showing better stats and in my opinion, yes, he deserves (to be on the shortlist).

“People want to see in the second season if he can confirm all that he showed last season.

“Not only did he confirm that, he’s improved in all aspects of his game.”

Kane and Lukaku also feature on the PFA Young Player of the Year list along with Alli, Burnley’s Michael Keane, Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford and Leroy Sane of ¬

Better

® Manchester City. Spurs players have won the PFA Young Player of the Year prize in four of the last five seasons, with Kyle Walker, Gareth Bale and Kane each voted the best by their peers.

Pochettino reckons the way Tottenham bring through young talent reminds him of the Manchester United production line under Sir Alex Ferguson.

He said: “The best example in football was United with Sir Alex Ferguson and what he created which made the core of a team that won everything.”

Pochettino said he was surprised so few coaches in England believed in English talent.

He said: “It is true it is sometimes easier to look outside your country.

“One of our challenges was to show the English people that the talent exists here.”