Dele Alli says he will happily play anywhere for England as he faces a battle with captain Wayne Rooney to start in his preferred position.
The 20-year-old was named PFA Young Player of the Year last season after shining for Spurs in an advanced midfield position, scoring 10 Premier League goals.
However, that position is where Rooney has started this campaign for Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, having been deployed much deeper in midfield by Louis van Gaal and former England manager Roy Hodgson last year and Sam Allardyce looks set to follow Mourinho’s lead and play his captain further forward, with Alli the man likely to have to drop back.
The former MK Dons midfielder says he has no problem sacrificing his prefered position for Rooney as he looks to add to his 12 caps in Allardyce’s first game in charge – Sunday’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in Trnava.
“Everyone likes a bit of competition,” Alli said. “I’m going to keep working hard and I will be happy to play anywhere for the country. I’m young and would like to play anywhere. If the manager chooses Wayne to play in the No 10 role then that’s not my decision to make.
“I will take it and keep working hard. I’m not really bothered where he puts me, I’m just happy to be out there to help my country.”
Alli was part of the England squad eliminated from Euro 2016 by Iceland, and is under no illusion that he still has room for improvement, in particular with his discipline.
Alli missed the final three games of the last season’s Premier League campaign due to suspension following an incident involving West Brom’s Claudio Yacob, as Spurs’ title tilt ended in a third-placed finish behind Leicester and Arsenal.
“I have made a few mistakes with my temper, I know. But I have learned from that,” he added.
“The manager has spoken to me and after what happened to me last year having to miss the last three games, I realise I can’t do those kind of things and need to keep them under control.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the finished article, I still have a lot to learn and can keep improving. There are still a few more things I can work on in the short-term and definitely in the long term. I’m just going to keep working hard on and off the training field.”
(Sky Sports)
