Dele Alli may have downed tools and now faces ‘big problem’ at Everton – pundit
Gabby Agbonlahor has suggested a lack of effort in Everton training may explain Dele Alli’s absence from the team.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker claimed Everton’s relegation battle meant Dele had a “big problem” as Frank Lampard would not risk him in crucial games.
The Englishman, who turned 26 on Monday (11 April), has been an unused substitute in the Toffees’ last four Premier League games.
He is yet to make his full league debut for the club since his January move from Tottenham.
As relayed by the Guardian earlier this month (1 April), Lampard insisted Dele still feels he has a point to prove.
But Agbonlahor has suggested there is more than meets the eye to his struggles.
He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Dele Alli, there must be something going on in training.
“Is he not showing the hunger? Does he not fit the formation Lampard wants to play?
“The big problem is, when you’re fighting for your life against relegation as a manager you can’t afford to say ‘Ok, let me give you a start here, Dele’. He has to play the team that is going to get a result.
“At the moment, it doesn’t feel like Dele Alli is a part of that and it’s a shame because he was such a top, top player and you don’t lose that overnight.”
Dele scored 51 times and provided 37 assists in 181 Premier League games for Spurs before his move to Goodison Park.
He is under contract at Everton until the summer of 2024.
In other news, Kieran Maguire has evaluated a £103million Everton claim as ‘furious’ rivals threaten legal action.