Wait for it …Dele will be special
ADAM LALLANA has urged the world to be patient with Dele Alli because he will be a “magnificent” player for England.
Alli was one of the successes of England’s defeat in Dortmund, playing alongside Lallana and Jamie Vardy in Gareth Southgate’s new 3-4-3 formation.
England could consider themselves unlucky to lose, missing several good chances before Joachim Low’s side got their game going.
Lallana struck a post and Alli forced a brilliant save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen when he should have scored.
But the Tottenham midfielder was inventive, brave and skilful and Liverpool star Lallana believes there is more to come from the 20-year-old.
“Dele is special,” he said. “I love the way he goes about his business: no fear and brave. He has that cheeky arrogance about him. That is what makes Dele.
“All players have different attitudes that make them what they are and that’s why he is unique and a special talent. Dele is already a magnificent player for England.
“But he is not even 21 yet. It is important that we don’t get carried away.
“People still need to be patient with him. He is still a young boy and performing how he does is way above his years.”
Southgate, in his first game in charge since being confirmed as England’s permanent manager, became the latest to mirror Premier League leaders Chelsea’s three-man defensive formation, and Lallana said: “This system could possibly be the way forward.
“The way that we adapted, considering we didn’t have long, it worked well. We will look at it and the areas we need to improve on ahead of Sunday. The boss felt we had the personnel to fit in and it worked.
“A lot of the lads are playing three at the back at their clubs and in the short time we had to work on it, the boss utilised the time really well so we had a good few sessions to work on it.
“As long as we win on Sunday against Lithuania, which is the most important game, then it will have been a good week.”