DELE ALLI has reported for pre-season training with Everton following a nightmare stint in Turkey.
The England international spent last season on loan with Turkish giants Besiktas – a move which was supposed to see him get more first-team football.
Dele Alli endured a nightmare loan spell with Besiktas last season
Alli’s future with Everton is well and truly up in the air
The England international was one of the first Toffees stars to return for pre-season training
But he was unable to get regular playing time in Istanbul, making a paltry 13 appearances in all competitions.
Injury cut short the midfielder’s Turkish adventure and he returned to Goodison Park in April.
And the 27-year-old is seemingly looking to hit the ground running by getting back to full fitness before his Toffees team-mates.
Alli was reportedly one of the first senior players to report to Finch Farm for pre-season training on Thursday.
The former Tottenham man was sporting silver hair as he got some work in on the exercise bike.
Everton fans were quick to comment on Alli’s earlier return to training, with one saying: “Just imagine he could get back to even half the player he was.”
Another said: “Deserves a chance to prove himself in pre-season.
And another said: “I would absolutely love it if SD can get a tune out of him.
“I’m really cynical about it, but it would be a stroke of management genius.”
One remarked: “We need him hopefully we can get the best out of him.”
Another chimed in: “There’s nothing to “look at”.
“We have 18 months of clear evidence that a judgement should be based on.”
Toffees chief Sean Dyche has yet to speak on the future of Alli, which he refused to be drawn on following his appointment as manager.
In April, he said: “He is not here. He has an injury which will keep him out for some time.
“Some of the stuff reported – they know what they should and shouldn’t be doing.
“As a manager, you cannot control everything in their lives.
“Should we be following them all day? You can only guide them.
“He has an injury which will take a while to sort out – it will be a number of weeks.”
