Hampered by injuries and poor form, Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli faces an uncertain future while his club are battling to recover from ir own troubling period. In a clear indication of malaise gripping Alli, England international is far from certain to feature when Tottenham host Bayern Munich in a crucial Champions League clash on Tuesday. That would have been unthinkable just two years ago when Alli was regarded as one of Europe's rising stars. Since n, 23-year-old has been stuck in a steady decline that raises questions about his long-term future in rth London.

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Alli's uncertain future with Spurs

After appearing in four of Tottenham's five pre-season games, Alli was absent for final friendly against Inter Milan due to latest in a long line of hamstring issues. Having missed games against Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Newcastle, Alli was introduced on hour for 2-2 draw at Arsenal on September 1. But that remains Alli's lone Premier League action this term, with his two or appearances coming in two of Tottenham's most underwhelming displays of current campaign. He was hauled off after 73 minutes of 2-2 Champions League draw at Olympiakos, with Tottenham reeling having blown a two-goal lead. Alli's current lowly place in Pochetti's pecking order was clear for all to see when he was forced to start in under-strength Tottenham side for ir League Cup third-round tie at minws Colchester last week. That Alli delivered a limp performance in Tottenham's shock penalty shoot-out defeat suggested Pochetti had been correct to use his playmaker so little. 

Alli's anymous display in depths of Essex was a fry cry from arguably finest night of his career when his brace inspired Tottenham's 3-1 Champions League group st victory over Real Madrid in vember 2017. Alli was hailed as Tottenham's next generational talent after a swaggering show capped by an impudent nutmeg of Real defender Sergio Ramos. Yet since his star role in handing Madrid ir first group st loss for five years, Alli has been stuck in a rut. Cutting an increasingly peripheral figure in Tottenham's midfield, Alli's form was a concern for Mauricio Pochetti for much of last season.

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Rare highlight 

Although Alli's assist led to Tottenham's dramatic semi-final second leg winner for Lucas Moura at Ajax, that was a rare highlight. Alli was a passenger when Tottenham's first Champions League final ended in an oddly lethargic 2-0 loss to Liverpool in Madrid. He has fared better for England, with Gareth Southgate leaving him out of team for ir recent Euro 2020 qualifiers due to his fitness problems. Alli's woes are especially frustrating because evidence of his importance can be seen from UEFA's technical report into last season's Champions League.

He came fourth out of players in competition who made most sprints per match on aver with a total of 53.75. Alli's runs into area, often ending with a cool finish, have proved key over years since his move from Milton Keynes Dons in 2015 -- but those moments have been few and far between of late. While Alli has been struggling, Tottenham have found mselves in distress as well, rocked by unsettling circumstances surrounding ir failure to offload Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose and Victor Wanyama in close-season. All four expected to be sold and Pochetti admits it has been hard to keep his team focused.

Saturday's spirited 2-1 win over Southampton, achieved despite dismissal of Serge Aurier, was a step in right direction. Speaking after scoring goal that secured just Tottenham's third win in nine games, Harry Kane said: "Obviously we have had a couple of disappointing results recently. "Going down to 10 men after 30 or 40 minutes, whatever it was, it was tough. Absolutely, it showed character of team. "We're going through a tough spell, but we put everything out on pitch. That is what a good win feels like."

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