Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli vows to keep "aggressive streak"

Tottenham Hotspur starlet Dele Alli has insisted that he will not ditch his "aggressive streak" after avoiding a red card in last night's Europa League tie against Fiorentina.

The England international, 19, appeared to kick Nenad Tomovic in the stomach while the defender was lying on the ground in the first half of the last-32 first leg at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

German referee Felix Zwayer appeared to see the incident as he booked Alli, and it was confirmed this morning that the midfielder would receive no further punishment.

Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the draw in Florence that Alli still has "a lot to learn about elite football", but the former MK Dons man believes that he must not lose the fiery side to his game.

"My personality is that I like to express myself and that is not something I will look to change," Alli told PA.

"Do you need an aggressive streak to thrive? You could say that. A lot of the great players have that mentality. I want to be the best I can and if that's what I need to do it, that's what I do."

Spurs drew 1-1 in last night's first leg to put themselves in pole position to advance to the last 16 going into next week's return leg at White Hart Lane.