Darren Bent has some advice for Tottenham star Dele Alli

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Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has theorised what could be wrong with Dele Alli.

The midfielder has had a tough start to the 2019/20 season and has struggled for fitness and form.

The England international, who missed out on Gareth Southgate’s most recent squad, has gradually been featuring more for Spurs, but is having trouble making the same kind of impact for the team as a couple of years ago.

He scored against Watford recently, but was totally ineffective against Liverpool at the weekend and Bent believes he knows why.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “When you think about Dele Alli you think about the timing of his runs into the box. The telepathic connection he had with Harry Kane where he could run in behind and someone could find him.

“When he got into the area he was a good finisher, whether it be with his head, great touch, he could create – somehow he’s gone away from that. He’s trying to get on the ball and is maybe a little too deep.

“If he can get himself further up the pitch and just get into areas where he used to cause people problems then I think his form will start to come back.”

TBR’s view – Alli most effective more advanced

Bent does have a point, Alli no longer seems to be playing right on the shoulder of Harry Kane and is instead picking the ball up in areas where he can do little harm to the opponent.

The 23-year-old is at his best when playing virtually alongside Kane, who is extremely effective with his link-up play.

A clear loss of confidence isn’t helping matters, but Alli needs to put himself in better positions to recapture the form that once made him one of the Premier League’s most feared young players.