OPINION
Dele Alli has been sorely missed by Tottenham since breaking down with a thigh injury in January. Mauricio Pochettino has suggested the attacking midfielder is closing in on a return, raising hopes he would be in the squad for Tuesday’s last-16, Champions League second-leg clash against Borussia Dortmund. But, much to the consternation of Tottenham fans, Alli was conspicuous by his absence as Spurs released a video on their official Twitter account of the squad boarding a flight bound for Germany on Monday afternoon. Harry Winks and Eric Dier were back in the squad after injury and illness respectively, but fellow England international Alli appeared to have been left behind in London. Spurs have a three-goal advantage, but Alli’s big-game record and his goal creating and scoring ability makes him a key man. His injury came an especially inopportune time, as he was playing some of his best football of what has been an up-and-down season for the 22-year-old.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
Didn’t see Dele on the video of players boarding the plane for Dortmund. Dier was there though!
— Tim Alexander (@SpursBelief) March 4, 2019
Brilliant to see Winks and Dier getting on the plane, but what about Dele?!! Was really hoping he’d be fit #COYS
— It all seems a bit trivial now ? (@MattyFrench82) March 4, 2019
Looks like only Dele missing, hopefully back for Saturday!
— Dan (@ElCapitain82) March 4, 2019
Good to see Dier back, but Dele? 🙁
— Spursy1882 (@sourjyac93) March 4, 2019
We need Dele! When y’all gonna let him back on the pitch?
— Jobi Linn Schaeffer, MBA ?? ? (@Jobilinn) March 4, 2019
I thought dele was available for this game
— Oliver Marriott (@OliverMarriott2) March 4, 2019
Get Dele on the plane.
— Special K (@Spurs_SpecialK) March 4, 2019
Dele??
— GuernseyYido (@LeSavage85) March 4, 2019