Southgate: Alli is outstanding for his age

Alli, who usually plays in behind Harry Kane at Tottenham, was deployed in a slightly deeper role by Gareth Southgate in the friendly win on Saturday. He and Jesse Lingard played ahead of Eric Dier in midfield, and the England boss was very happy with Alli's performance at Wembley. 

"I thought his performance was really good today, his use of the ball, I liked his play with runners ahead of him," Southgate said. "The position he had to play today was a little bit different from where we have used him in the past, where he was coming off the front and having to turn with the ball a bit more. It's a position he has played a lot as a younger player, in particular, and I know he likes it."

The England coach went on to praise Alli's persistence. "The intelligence of his runs; we didn't always find him. In fact we had to keep encouraging him to make those runs because the danger is you get disappointed at not being found and stop doing it."

"But he kept making those runs and that's one of his strengths, to make those runs in behind. He sees the gaps really well and that was very effective for us today."

For Southgate, Alli's performance at such a young age means that there is plenty to come from the attacking midfielder. "His goalscoring record for a player his age is outstanding," he said. "At the moment with England he hasn't found that number of goals but I'm sure he will because he smells the opportunities."

"If we play as we did today [Saturday], and create the number of chances we did, getting the ball in those areas, those lads who were in those positions will score goals."

"He's always a player who is going to find a high level," Southgate continued. "As a goal threat, we want players in the team with a goalscoring record when possible."