Got him! Dele Alli makes incredible catch in Spurs training during casual cricket match as Joe Hart, Eric Dier, Gareth Bale and Harry Kane watch on in amazement
- The knockabout took place in the gym at Tottenham’s training ground in Enfield
- Dele Alli pulled off the outrageous bit of skill off the bowling of Jack Clarke
- The 24-year-old has found on-pitch opportunities hard to come by this season
Dele Alli may not be enjoying many minutes on the pitch for Tottenham during their impressive start to the season, but the 24-year-old has demonstrated that he is not too bad at cricket during a casual knockabout at the club’s training ground.
After a ball was bowled by 20-year-old Jack Clarke, a hoik ‘down the ground’ by fellow youngster Harvey White headed in the direction of Alli, who nonchalantly flicked the ball into the air with the outside of his right foot – reminiscent of his stunning piece of control before scoring that absolute screamer against Crystal Palace four years ago – and caught it in his left hand.
Those ‘in the field’, including Eric Dier, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane and Joe Hart, celebrated wildly, with Hart covering his mouth in shock at the audacious bit of skill.
Alli for his part knew that he’d pulled off something a bit special, turning to face one of the gym cameras and posing.
The England international played an influential role in Jose Mourinho’s first match in charge of Spurs exactly one year ago today against West Ham, setting up the opener for Son Heung-min before producing an outrageous flick while laying on the ground to keep the ball in play and set Son on his bike for the second, who fed Lucas Moura for the second.
Mourinho’s men won 3-2 that day and there was a sense that Alli could reignite his career under the former Manchester United boss.
Alli has fallen out of favour with Jose Mourinho after doubts were raised about his attitude
The 24-year-old’s only goal so far this season came in the 7-2 trouncing of Maccabi Haifa
He then scored four goals in his next three games, but then only managed three strikes in the following 24 matches as Mourinho cast doubts over the former MK Dons midfielder’s attitude in training during Spurs’ fly-on-the-wall documentary, All or Nothing, which aired on Amazon Prime and followed the club’s fortunes last season.
Alli has fallen out of favour this term and has only started three matches, with the only one of those in the Premier League being the 1-0 opening-day defeat to Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, when he was hauled off after 45 minutes. He has not yet completed 90 minutes this season and his only goal came in the 7-2 win over Maccabi Haifa.
