Friday 6 April 2018 23:48, UK
Paul Lambert has warned Dele Alli's critics they are only harming England by heavily scrutinising the midfielder.
Alli's performances have come under scrutiny recently, but he brushed the criticisms aside with a match-winning display against Chelsea on Sunday, scoring twice in the 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham travel to face Lambert's Stoke this weekend, and he has urged Alli's doubters to lay off the 21-year-old.
"It's the old thing of a young kid bursting through and hitting the ground running. He does great, then he's had a little bit of a blip, which all young kids do, then he comes back again," Lambert said.
"Everybody seems to push the old pressure button to him rather than just letting him flourish.
"It's not healthy for him, a young kid getting criticised, especially for the national team.
"You want your young, best players to perform. If you're continually going to criticise him, he's human, he's only a baby. It's unfair, especially for the national team."
Lambert has been a long-time admirer of Alli and attempted to bring him to Aston Villa from MK Dons before he moved to Tottenham in 2015.
"I actually spoke to him on the phone when he was at MK Dons for Aston Villa - he came across really well," Lambert added.
"He obviously chose Tottenham and he kicked right on. I knew Tottenham were in, it was always going to be difficult with Tottenham. He was a nice kid."
