CAN,RISE ‘YES DELE AND SHINE’
REDEMPTION for Dele Alli seemed to have arrived late on last season with his stunning second-half performance to help secure Everton’s Premier League status in the win-or-bust game against Crystal Palace.
The England midfielder suddenly burst into life after being summoned off the bench by then-boss Frank Lampard to transform Everton and propel them to a nerve-racking 3-2 win.
All was forgiven. Surely the real Alli would emerge at Goodison Park in the 2022-23 season?
But, for some inside the club’s Finch Farm training centre, the alarm bells rang when he clocked in last summer with his fingernails adorned with garish varnish.
The training sessions did not match that flamboyance and, after two substitute appearances, he was off to Turkey to join Besiktas on loan.
But after some underwhelming displays and a fallout with the manager Senol Gunes, Alli is back with Everton and has undergone surgery on a painful hip problem. Having turned 27, and with recent pictures showing him surrounded by laughing gas and a bottle of Tequila, the writing appears to be on the wall. Support for Alli is dwindling – but not when it comes to the manager who helped to nurture his career at MK Dons, Karl Robinson.
Robinson (above), who recently lost his job as Oxford United boss, is adamant that the promising player he once mentored still has the hunger to get himself back on track.
“You can tell that Dele still loves football and wants to get back to being the player he was. He still has the drive and determination,” Robinson said. “He has to accept what has happened to him, and own up to his mistakes.
“But people have to remember he’s a human being. At times it hasn’t been easy. For instance, he was under the wrong manager at Besiktas, someone who didn’t do him any favours.
“Deep down Dele is a good person and there’s still a good player there. He’s just 27 with good years ahead.”
Everton boss Sean Dyche has hinted that he is prepared to give Alli a chance – probably now in the next pre-season – if he shows commitment.
Dyche said: “I’ve spoken to him. He needs to get his injury right and we’ll take it from there.”