Lampard is hoping Alli’s display can spark career
Manager Frank Lampard hopes Dele Alli’s individual contribution to the vital 1-1 draw against Leicester can be the starting point for him to ignite his Everton career.
The former England international was Lampard’s first choice as a substitute just before the hour as he chased the game but it was not until the second minute of additional time that Alli made his mark.
Chasing down a ball into thecornerheretrievedpossession and his cross led to Richarlison scoring, which moved themfourpointsaheadof18thplaced Burnley ahead of their homegameagainstSouthampton on Thursday.
ItwasonlyAlli’sseventhappearance since his deadlinedaymovefromTottenham,but Lampard hopes it could be the spark which helps him regain his form. “We needed a goal and he has trained well,” said themanagerwhenaskedabout his choice of substitution.
“It is not easy to demand from players who are not playing so much to come in and have an impact but you have to train well to show your manager you deserve a chance and hehasdonethat.Clearlyhehas done that in training, and then yougetyourbitofluckorsomethinghappensforyouandthat happened with Dele.
“He deserves it; he ran into thecorner,hebulliessomeone and gets the ball back into the box and we score off it.
“I was really pleased with that part of it from him and hopefully that can be a big starting point for him.”
Lampard admits the transition to a new club – and one that was struggling – after seven years at Tottenham was always going to be tough for the 26-year-old.
“I don’t think the story was ever going to be simple with Dele; we know the situation he came to us in terms of how the last couple of seasons have looked and the high level he reachedforabigperiodoftime at Tottenham.
“Sometimes you have to work and fight through things andweareinthatprocesswith him. I have a big level of communication with him and I explain a lot to him in terms of the demands of training and application and being ready for whenever that moment comes.”
Apointwasmorebeneficial toEvertonthanitwastoLeicester,whoremaininninthand11 pointsadriftoflikelyEuropean qualification.