Dele Alli is again fighting to save his career because his move to Everton has not worked out.
Alli has made just six substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Blues and has yet to start a game for boss Frank Lampard. Alli had hoped moving to Merseyside in January on a free would enable him to kickstart his career which had stalled so badly at Tottenham.
But if anything, his prospects have nosedived further and at least he started 13 games before heading to the North West. Alli, 25, is still no closer to playing regular first-team football and Lampard has delivered him a stark warning. Lampard has told the former England playmaker he must work hard in training to convince him that he can play a part in Everton’s fight for survival.
Everton desperately need a spark to ignite their dreadful campaign and Alli must prove to Lampard that he can be that player. When asked what must Alli do to start games, Lampard replied: “Train well, stay focused and show me in training - as all the players have to - that he is ready to play.
“And I know that’s not always easy as a player because players like to play games. But we’re in a position now where every game is crucial and how we prepare and how we go into games is based on what I see and that’s what I select from, so he just has to do that.”
Alli was an unused substitute at West Ham on Sunday and his prospects are unlikely to change any time soon. Everton fans had hoped Alli could help their battle for survival and Lampard insists he can handle the pressure, even though this is his first relegation fight.
Lampard spent his playing career at the other end of the table, winning everything from Premier Leagues to Champions Leagues and FA Cups to Europa Leagues with Chelsea. He has been pitched into a fight for survival with Everton and insists he can cope with the tension.
“Everyone is quick to tell me I’ve never been in a relegation battle - I suppose that’s a positive - but I’ve been in this game a long time and I understand big moments,” said the Blues boss. "Tension can be a good thing, it can also go the other way. I don’t feel tense, I actually feel excited with the level of game and the competitive nature of this game.
“I loved as a player being involved in competitive games when there was a lot on them. I’m calm and excited and when the game comes, we just have to have an absolute belief in ourselves.”
Lampard is trying to transmit this calmness to his players and knows it is vital they are mentally right. “Yeah, that’s very important because it’s a big deal,” he said. “We’re in a position and a reality that we’re fighting at the bottom of the table to try and stay in the league. It’s been the case for a while, but with every game that goes, it becomes more intense, so the mental preparation, the physical preparation is key.”
