Ten reasons why Tottenham's Dele Alli is thriving in the Premier League

Tottenham's Dele Alli has been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year prize. After just 31 top-flight appearances, he's thriving in the Premier League.

The youngster turned 20 this month and looks set to help guide Spurs to their highest league position since they last won the league in 1960/61 and finished runners-up in 1962/63.

We've picked out 10 reasons behind Alli's superb season...

1. He's relished the step up

Spurs signed Alli from MK Dons for an initial fee of £5m on transfer deadline day in February last year. He was immediately loaned back to the League One club for the remainder of the season. He scored 16 goals in all competitions in 2014/15, in what was only his second season as a first-team regular, helping the Dons win promotion to the Championship and being named Football League Young Player of the Year.

At the start of this season, Mauricio Pochettino brought the then-19-year-old on from the bench against Manchester United in Spurs' opening game. It's been a rapid rise for Alli but, since his Spurs debut, he has taken the step up in his stride. 

The youngster has cemented his place in the Spurs starting line-up and played in all but two league games - sitting out one of those through suspension - and signed a new contract in January this year.

2. Oozing confidence

At 16 years old, Alli's first touch in professional football was a perfect back-heel pass in an FA Cup tie against Cambridge City. His second professional appearance was in the return leg when he scored a long-range screamer.

At 18, he helped the Dons demolish Manchester United 4-0 in the Capital One Cup second round, setting up three goals. A year later, Alli nutmegged Real Madrid's Luka Modric in a pre-season friendly for Tottenham and, earlier this season, attempted - and scored - an audacious volley against Crystal Palace in the Premier League. 

3. World-class credentials

England manager Roy Hodgson handed the then-19-year-old his England debut against Estonia in October last year after just seven league appearances for Tottenham. One month later, he scored a spectacular opening goal on his full debut in a 2-0 win over France.

Alli was also instrumental during the Three Lions' 3-2 friendly win over Germany in March - a performance that could well have earned him a starting place this summer.

4. Goal threat

Alli is a proven goalscorer at all levels. In League One last season, he played 39 games and scored 16 goals. He's maintained that goalscoring habit in the top flight this season, scoring eight goals in 31 Premier League games and, as mentioned above, has also opened his international account.   

5. He shoots, he scores

When Alli hits the target, there's a 31 per cent chance he'll score. Five of Alli's league goals this season have come from his only shot on target in each game. In total, his eight goals have come from just 26 shots on target - he's only missed the target on 16 occasions.

6. Running stamina

On average, Alli has covered 12.41km per 90 minutes this season, the 18th-highest average out of 179 midfielders who have played the equivalent of one game or more.

7. Creating with Eriksen

Alli has assisted nine league goals this season, creating seven of Harry Kane's 22 goals, making him the Premier League's fifth-top assist provider behind Mesut Ozil (18), Riyad Mahrez (11), David Silva (11), and team-mate Christian Eriksen (10).

Eriksen has also created 74 chances from open play and another 27 from set plays this season. But Alli isn't far off the Dane, creating 44 chances from open play. He has also created at least one chance in all but five league games when he's played more than 30 minutes. 

8. Getting stuck in

Alli doesn't just score and create, he also wins back possession. He wins 7.5 duels per 90 minutes on average, compared to the league midfielder average of 5.8. 

His appetite to win the ball may explain why he has collected seven yellow cards in the league this season. Alli told Sky Sports: "Aggression is an important part of my game and also you can't let opponents think you are some 19-year-old kid they can push around."

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9. Towering presence

Alli can also win possession with his 6ft 2in aerial presence, having won 36 headers in the league this season. He wins a modest 1.5 headers per 90 minutes on average, the 43rd-highest ratio out of Premier League midfielders who have played one game or more. Utilising his height advantage may be one area for improvement.

However, in his second appearance for Tottenham, he scored a late header against Spurs' current title challengers and league leaders Leicester, before Riyad Mahrez levelled the scores one minute later.

10. Drawing fouls

Alli's control and skill through a busy midfield lures reckless challenges; he's drawn 62 fouls during this campaign, including one penalty against Norwich. That's an average of 2.4 fouls won per 90 minutes, the 11th-highest ratio out of midfielders who have played the equivalent of one game or more.

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