Jamie O’Hara reckons Southgate should have stuck by Tottenham’s Alli

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Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara believes Gareth Southgate was wrong to axe Dele Alli from his latest England squad.

The 49-year-old has snubbed the attacking midfielder for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.

Alli had been an England regular since before the 2018 World Cup, but poor club form has seen him fall out of the international picture.

Injury has restricted Alli to just four appearances so far this season, and the 23-year-old is yet to end up on the winning side for his club.

In the eyes of O’Hara, Alli still should have been called up for the Three Lions.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “Southgate should have stuck by Dele Alli and give him confidence. I know he’s out of form but he’s still young & done a lot for his age.

“He [Southgate]  doesn’t need to look at Fabian Delph, does he?”

TBR’s view

O’Hara may have some bias being former Spurs, but Alli can’t have too many complaints about the snub.

Unfortunately he’s played too little football, and in the 264 minutes he’s played this term he has failed to impress.

Maybe this international snub, something he is not used to, will be the catalyst for Alli to improve at club level.

Spurs fans have been highly disappointed with what they have seen from him in 2019, but perhaps the severity of missing the latest England squad will set alarm bells ringing for the player.