Hodgson encouraged by Alli’s fresh chance at Tottenham

Crystal Palace boss, Roy Hodgson, is happy seeing Dele Alli earn a fresh chance at Tottenham.

The 24-year-old had looked set to exit Spurs in January after he started only one Premier League fixture during the first half of the season.

No move materialised and the playmaker is back in favour after he struck a wonder goal in the Europa League against Wolfsberger last month before playing a key role in Thursday’s 1-0 win at Fulham.

read also:Hodgson furious with Palace’s rescheduled Man United fixture

Hodgson will face Alli on Sunday when Palace visit Tottenham, and he has been a long-term fan of the former MK Dons ace, who he handed an England debut to as a teenager in 2015.

“I am very pleased for him because he is a player I like and admire,” the 73-year-old said.

“He is an excellent player and it’s always sad when a player with so much potential hits hard times and maybe is not able to get his place in the team for whatever reason that is.

“It’s very good on a personal basis for my relationship if you like with Dele Alli, who I enjoyed working with and who I thought was a very good player, to see him playing again.

“But I wouldn’t have minded if he waited another couple of weeks!”