Tottenham manager confused by Alli’s absence from POTY shortlist

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has expressed his surprise at Dele Alli’s omission from the PFA Player of the Year shortlist despite being included in the Young Player of the Year category.

Alli, who turned 21 earlier this week, is the clear front runner to pick up the PFA Young Player of the Year award at the end of the season after enjoying a sensational goalscoring campaign for second-placed Tottenham.

The England international has been out of the best players in the Premier League this season but was surprisingly left off the shortlist for the main award, which Pochettino admits he is baffled about.

“I think he’s a better player, he’s showing better stats and in my opinion, yes, he deserves it,” The Daily Mail quote Pochettino as saying whether there should be room for Alli on the six-man shortlist for the POTY list.

“After his first season in the Premier League people always want to see in the second season if he can confirm all that he showed then - and not only did he confirm that, he’s improved all aspects of his game.

“That means he’s clever, intelligent, still with potential to improve and learn and he’s showing he’s one of the best players in the Premier League.

Alli is on course to become the first midfielder to score 20 goals in a Premier League campaign since Yaya Toure managed the feat in the 2013/14 campaign. The Tottenham starlet has scored 16 goals in the Premier League so far this season - the same as Sergio Aguero - and has just seven games remaining to do so.

For more stats on Dele Alli, click here to visit his WhoScored player page