Dele Alli: From cleaning Jason Puncheon's boots to facing Crystal Palace for Tottenham

Dele Alli used to clean Jason Puncheon's boots but now they will be going head-to-head

FIVE years ago Dele Alli would finish his boot-cleaning duties at MK Dons to watch Jason Puncheon star in League One. Now the former club-mates are set to go head to head in the Premier League.

 

Attacking midfielder Alli, 19, has made an impressive start to his Tottenham career after ending an eight-year spell at his home town club.

Puncheon, 10 years his senior, is regarded as the shining light in a Crystal Palace side that will arrive at White Hart Lane tomorrow three points ahead of the hosts.

 

"At MK, when I was cleaning boots and stuff, we always used to speak about how good he was," said Alli. "He was really exciting to watch and he is showing how good he is now in the Premier League. I didn't clean his boots though, I got put on the gaffer's."

Yannick Bolasie looked set for a move to Spurs in the summer and Palace manager Alan Pardew insists he would not have been bullied into selling the winger.

 

Alli used to clean Puncheon's boots when he was at MK Dons

"I think the security of the Premier League finances means it's now more difficult for clubs to come and take players from Stoke, from us, from West Brom," he said.

"We can ask for what we think is a legitimate price and stick to it, because we are strong enough to cope with that.

"But you still need a good attitude from the player and I have to say that Yala and obviously he lost his father recently, has had a tremendous appetite to play for this football club through all of that speculation."