MX23RW : Thursday, April 25 00:48:55| >> :120:24747:24747:

Luke Chadwick: 'Dele Alli always destined for the top'

Luke Chadwick tells Sports Mole why his former teammate Dele Alli was always going to shine in the Premier League.

Luke Chadwick has told Sports Mole that he never had any doubts over his former teammate Dele Alli's ability to shine in the Premier League.

The 19-year-old agreed a move from the MK Dons to Tottenham Hotspur 12 months ago, although he did not arrive at White Hart Lane until the summer.

There were suggestions at the time that Spurs would initially look to loan out the youngster instead of exposing him to the physical demands of the Premier League straight away.

Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur takes on Mark Noble of West Ham United during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on November 22, 2015 in London, England.© Getty Images

However, Alli was included in the starting lineup by head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the clash away at Manchester United on the opening day and since then he has been a virtual ever-present, making 30 appearances in all competitions.

The midfielder's performances have earned widespread praise and his growing reputation was further enhanced by scoring what many consider to have been the Goal of the Season so far away at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

Alli's swift adaptation has been a surprise for some, but Chadwick always knew that he would be able to cope in the top flight.

Dele Alli celebrates scoring during the game between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur on January 3, 2016© Getty Images

"Dele started training with us when he was about 15 and then when he left school he came and did pre-season with us. He was already such an athlete then. We already knew how good he was on the ball and knew that he had a chance. He had a bit of arrogance about him as well," said the 35-year-old, who played alongside Alli at the Dons.

"He used to get kicked all over the place in training. I've never seen a player be able to nutmeg other players so easily and he'd get smashed because of it. Most young lads would go into their shell, but he loved it. He'd jump up with a smile on his face and then do it again. He had that swagger of a Premier League player about him.

"I was on holiday in the summer and Spurs were playing a pre-season game against Real Madrid. I looked up at the screen briefly and I saw him nutmeg Luka Modric. Then, I knew he'd have a chance at the start of the season. He's got everything. His technique is superb, he's good on the ball and he has a good engine on him. He's the modern-day midfielder."

The progression has not gone unnoticed by England boss Roy Hodgson either, with Alli picking up four senior caps to date, from which he has scored one goal.

England's midfielder Dele Alli (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the friendly football match between England and France at Wembley Stadium in west London on November 17, 2015© Getty Images

His place in the squad for the European Championships this summer would appear to already be assured, yet Chadwick has insisted that the goal threat Alli poses should see him nail down a spot in the team, rather than be used as a bit-part player.

"He's got to play, simply because he's a bit different. Without Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who is going to score a goal from midfield? He's shown he can do that," added the ex-Man United winger.

"There isn't many midfielders in the Premier League that are getting themselves in the box from open play at the moment - Dele is doing that."

Alli recently signed a new contract which has tied him to Spurs until the summer of 2021.

ID:264971: cacheID:264971:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6876:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dele Alli celebrates scoring Tottenham Hotspur's second goal against Crystal Palace on January 23, 2016
Read Next:
Pochettino praises "tremendous" Alli goal
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
10am
Cachin
Ofner
10am
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
10am
Gasquet
Sonego
10am
Hanfmann
Mensik
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
10am
Lajovic
Monteiro
10am
Machac
Ruusuvuori
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
10am
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
10am
O'Connell
Arnaldi
10am
Purcell
Giron
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
10am
Tabilo
Cobolli
10am
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
10am
Azarenka
Maria
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
10am
Gauff
Rus
10am
Keys
Camelia-Begu
10am
Podoroska
Navarro
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Altmaier
Fils
10am
Darderi
Fritz
10am
Griekspoor
Daniel
10am
Munar
Struff
10am
Musetti
Seyboth Wild
10am
Navone
Rune
10am
Shevchenko
Alcaraz
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
10am
Garcia
Wang
10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
10am
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
10am
Vekic
Sakkari
11.30am
Arango
Yastremska
11.30am
Osaka
Samsonova
11.30am
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
1pm
Haddad Maia
Errani
2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
2.30pm
Mertens
Stephens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool34228475344174
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!