Silver Linings Abound for Tottenham in Dele Alli’s Premier League Ban

Dele Alli’s first Premier League season is over after the Football Association imposed a three-match suspension for his violent conduct against West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob. 

Tottenham’s pursuit of the league title all but ended with the 1-1 draw against the Baggies, but Alli’s tussle with his Argentinian shadow has demanded coverage in aftermath. 

Not for the first time this season, Alli was guilty of an unnecessary, violent reaction. For the first time, he was caught. 

Alli has rapidly evolved from a youngster with great potential to a vital player capable of creating chaos for opposition defences while himself working hard in defence. 

His absence away to Chelsea, at home against Southampton and in the final game of the campaign against Newcastle will be strongly felt. 

It is not all bad news for Tottenham and their mischievous young star. 

Alli has played 3,224 minutes in his first season in senior football. That is the equivalent of nearly 36 full games and, particularly playing in Mauricio Pochettino’s demanding system, has surely tested his adolescent stamina. 

The history of football is replete with youngsters damaged by playing huge amounts of football while still developing. 

Alli is a certain selection for England’s UEFA European Football Championship campaign in the summer, meaning he will get only a minor break before returning to pre-season training. 

This suspension means that Alli will have a full six-week break between his last Spurs appearance and England’s Euro 2016 opener against Russia. 

If that break helps him perform for England, that will still benefit Tottenham in the long run, but …

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