Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that he is "not worried" by Dele Alli's lack of form ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's meeting with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The England international has yet to truly scale the heights of 2016-17 in the opening months of this campaign, made all the more frustrating by a three-match ban in European competition carried over from February.
Alli has still managed to accumulate a combined six goals and assists in 12 outings, however, and Pochettino believes that the 21-year-old's return to continental action on Wednesday night will provide his side with a timely boost.
"When a player is not involved, you feel a little bit down," he told reporters. "Sometimes he had to stay at the training ground, alone, training. It was not easy for anyone. Maybe he was affected a little bit about that.
"Now, we're so happy with the way he's doing. His internal motivation is higher now, to try to compete at his best level. We're very happy with his performances, he's increasing his level.
"I'm not worried about him. It's true, he's disappointed too that he's not at his best. But it's coming, like the winter is coming."
Former Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet has urged Alli to avoid being distracted by off-field matters if he is to make a success of his career.
Daniel Lewis
