Dele Alli 'an England wildcard for Euro 2016', MK Dons boss Karl Robinson says
Wednesday 23 September 2015 12:05, UK
Dele Alli "ticks a number of boxes" if Roy Hodgson is looking for a Euro 2016 wildcard, his old MK Dons boss says.
Alli left the Dons for Tottenham in the summer and has made an immediate impact at Premier League level, scoring in a 1-1 draw at Leicester to help force his way into Mauricio Pochettino's starting line-up.
England manager Hodgson was at White Hart Lane on Sunday to see the 19-year-old play all 90 minutes of Spurs' victory over Crystal Palace.
And MK Dons boss Karl Robinson told Sky Sports News HQ that U21 international Alli has the temperament and tactical flexibility to succeed at elite level.
He said: "I'm sure Roy Hodgson will have ideas of who he'll take. As a wildcard Dele ticks a number of boxes: he can play down the left, play at No 10, No 8 and can also sit in midfield and dictate the game from deep.
"I've seen most of the games, and he's played in a number of positions. I think being versatile as a young player aids your minutes on pitch, and that's where he's got a bit of an advantage."
Robinson gave a 16-year-old Alli his senior debut in 2012, and the teenager then marked his first start by scoring in an FA Cup tie against Cambridge City.
"He can be as good as he wants to be," Robinson said. "I've known this kid since he was 14 and nothing's ever fazed him - whether it be training with the first team or playing in an FA Cup game - I think he played when he was 16 and scored an absolute wonder goal.
"He went away with England U18s and U19s, stepped up to the first team for a league campaign, and every challenge that's been put in front of this kid he's just had an amazing ability to cope with it in the same way.
"He's very, very level-headed. If you didn't know Dele he could be perceived as different things, but he's very calm and very together mentally."
