One player who doesn’t fit into Antonio Conte’s plans at Tottenham

Dele Alli is yet again on the outside looking in, as the once-prolific midfielder struggles to regain prominence at Tottenham. 

It looks distinctly like the case of new manager, same old story for Alli, who hasn’t played an integral part in Spurs plans since Mauricio Pochettino left the club just over two years ago. The Englishman’s fall from grace has been well documented, and it doesn’t look like redemption is on the cards.

Dele dedicated himself to training diligently in the offseason, trying to make a good first impression on then-manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Dele returned to Tottenham’s camp in better shape, more physically prepared for the rigours of the new Premier League campaign. His tireless work in the summer paid off, with Nuno giving Dele another shot in the first team.

While Dele showed a few glimpses of the talent that made him a household name at Spurs, his inability to be the difference maker relegated him back to the bench, a spot he has become all too familiar with.

Antonio Conte didn’t mention Dele’s name when asked about who he is considering for the starting team against Leeds tomorrow. Many are taking that as a clear sign Dele has remained on the bottom of the midfield pecking order.

Dele’s success in the top flight is based solely on his ability to offer something magical, something most others can’t. He has never worked the hardest or sacrificed the most, nor has he, at least in recent memory, committed himself wholly to Tottenham’s cause. It’s easy to see why, if Dele doesn’t consistently offer something special, Conte won’t favour somebody often viewed as a luxury component, an expendable player.

There are no passengers in Tottenham’s new Conte regime. Those who don’t pull their weight and commit to the Italian gaffer’s vision will soon find themselves left out in the cold. Dele, along with a handful of others, is on the chopping block at Spurs.

Tottenham supporters still hold out hope of seeing Dele, once considered one of the world’s best young midfielders, return to the form that saw him become a household name in England and abroad.

Unfortunately those glory years, when everything he touched turned to gold, feels like a bygone era.

Now the 25-year-old is running on borrowed time, especially under a gaffer who demands unerring commitment and sacrifice from his players. If he is given another chance, he’ll have to make it count. Otherwise, Dele’s once-prosperous ride at Spurs will end on an uneventful whimper.